If you believe that there are coincidences, this story is perhaps the most bizarre and unlucky of all: Australian billionaire Clive Palmer's luxury yacht "Australia" has staged a laughable run aground on the Australian coastline. Ironically, this incident happened just as he was restarting the high-profile "Titanic II" project, as if it was providential, pushing his joy and embarrassment to a climax at the same time.
Clive Palmer, Australia's mining giant, is known for his deep pockets and unique tastes. And the superyacht "Australia", which is worth up to 40 million US dollars, is a symbol of his identity and status. However, this yacht, known as the pearl of the sea, always seems to be inseparable from the word "grounded".
This time, the luxury yacht was parked on the sandy beaches of the Gold Coast. The 56-year-long yacht seems to like to run aground on the beach; It experienced a similar incident in Singapore nearly 8 months ago. On that occasion, the yacht ran aground in the Buran Strait near the Sentosa resort and had to be rescued by a tugboat.
Clive Palmer's superyacht ran aground in Singapore last year
Over the weekend, the "Australia" was once again in the spotlight. It leaves the dock at the Southport Yacht Club, crosses the Gold Coast Channel to the open sea, and then turns around and returns to the marina. Leave for the second time later. This time, however, it suddenly changed direction, headed for shallow water, and ended up stuck on a sandbar. Local reports said the Australia was "stranded" for four to five hours until a coast guard tugboat arrived to rescue her and was able to return to the dock — perhaps to receive necessary repairs.
At the time of writing, there is no information on whether the two accidents were caused by human error or some kind of malfunction of the yacht. But yachting enthusiasts on social media analyzed that the yacht could have something wrong because its course and trajectory of moving back and forth proved this claim. The grounding, of course, required the yacht to return to base, leaving little room for imagination. It is unknown whether billionaire Palmer was on board at the time of the incident.
It is worth mentioning that the "Australia" has an excellent pedigree and an impressive record of popular charters. The yacht was delivered in 2012 by Benetti Italy. Initially, the Ulysses, which belonged to another yachting enthusiast and was renamed "Bash" when it came under the name of New Zealand billionaire Graeme Hart, who sold it to Palmer in 2021 and named it "Australia".
The exterior was designed by Stefano Natucci and the interior was created by Benetti's in-house design team, however, these designs have been carefully modified over time and may have deviated significantly from the original concept. Power comes from two Caterpillar engines for a maximum speed of 16 knots (18.4 mph / 30 km/h). The vessel is spacious enough to accommodate 12 guests and 12 professional crew members for an unforgettable and luxurious journey.
In contrast, the Australia is a smaller superyacht that offers billionaires multi-generational attraction and bragging rights thanks to its rich amenities and lavish finishes. Spa pools, several bars, wellness areas and luxury resort-like décor all reflect the prestige and luxury.
In 2021, when Palmer bought it, the Australia quietly withdrew from the rental market, making any upgrades under its current ownership a mystery. A second grounding involving the USS Australia has also gone viral, but for reasons that may not have been what you might think. The discussion around it is not about the "Australia" superyacht or any problems it may have, but around Palmer's grand plans for the "Titanic II". Last year, similar talk has been simmering.
In other words, netizens were baffled by the contrast between Palmer's grand plans and his yacht's ability to maintain them. If even the "Australia" could not avoid the embarrassing situation of hitting a sandbar, then for the passengers of the "Titanic II", how could they be sure that the giant ship would not repeat the mistakes of the famous cruise ship in 1912?
With an estimated budget of $500 million to $1 billion but no announcement has yet been made to build its shipyard, the luxury cruise ship, owned by Palmer's Blue Star Line, will have nine decks, 269 meters (882.5 feet) long, 32.2 meters (105.6 feet) wide, and an internal volume of up to 56,000 GT, which will undoubtedly be a moving palace at sea.
In fact, about a decade ago, Palmer first shared his idea of building a second Titanic at a press conference at the Ritz Hotel in London. The project was shelved until 2018 to restart, and again stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic, among other reasons.
Today, however, the billionaire is more determined and wealthy than ever. On March 4 this year, Palmer confidently announced at a press conference that the design plan for "Titanic II" had been settled, "so that I could build the 'Titanic'." I'll do it. His words reveal his eagerness and determination for the project. Building the Titanic is much more fun than sitting at home and counting money. "I've found that in my life, the happiness you need is actually quite simple – having someone who loves you, having a place to sleep at night, and having enough time to enjoy a good meal." Other than that, the rest are clouds – just like playing golf, it's the process that counts, not the result. ”
The iconic staircase of the "Titanic" will be recreated
According to Palmer's affectionate description, "Titanic II" will not only be a perfect reproduction of the original "Titanic", but also a gorgeous transformation across time and space. It is a clever blend of classic elegance and modern technology, hidden deep in the hull of a ship with modern features that ensure the safety of navigation – whether it is rigorous safety protection, excellent navigation technology, or more extensive third-class lifeboats, all of which reflect the ultimate care for the safety of passengers.
Palmer gave the "Titanic II" a deep emotion and meaning, which he called a symbol of love and peace, and a deep tribute to the romantic feelings of that era. In his vision, the ship is not only a luxury cruise ship, but also a nostalgic journey of the past, a search for and celebration of beauty and peace.
Acknowledging that he is an optimist, Palmer also said he hopes 2027 will be the year Titanic II is commissioned. Hopefully, by that time, he will be able to solve the problems that plague the safety of superyachts, and make this legendary ship shine even brighter in the tide of the new era.
Clive Palmer is an outspoken Australian billionaire whose company, Mineralogy, has a net worth of $4 billion. He was passionate about rebuilding the legendary "Titanic" and certainly had enough wealth to do it. In addition to his interest in boats, Palmer is a big fan of cars and has the world's largest collection of antique cars, valued at $400 million. According to the Daily Mail, his collection includes 100 Rolls-Royces and Bentleys, 120 Mercedess and 22 Ferraris.
The 69-year-old former Australian MP calls himself a "living treasure of the nation" and is amazed by his legendary life and extraordinary achievements. Now, he is moving towards a new journey with firm steps, looking forward to the "Titanic II" in the near future, which can carry people's dreams and hopes to a better future.