Mining billionaire Clive Palmer is apparently dead-serious in resurrecting one of modern history's most iconic figures - the Titanic, disclosing on Tuesday that definite plans were underway for the passenger ship's maiden voyage on 2016.

Mr Palmer has contracted two firms to help him bring back into life the gigantic liner, which met its tragic end 100 years ago and only a few days after it set out for a much advertise journey to reach New York.

Mr Palmer told Agence France Press (AFP) yesterday that he has formally inked separate deals with Delmatrin of Finland, which has been tasked to draw out Titanic II's engineering make up, and CSC Jinling Shipyard, which in turn will work on the actual construction that will be wholly based on Delmatrin's final blueprint.

The new Titanic, Mr Palmer assured, will definitely have more travelling time ahead of her as designers of the ship's incarnation will ensure that the liner takes into full account global standards for safety and construction regulation.

There will not be a repeat of the disaster more than a century ago, the Aussie tycoon insisted, when an estimated 1500 people perished as Titanic sank into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean after a collision with an iceberg ripped through the ship's bottom portion.

"This magnificent vessel is being constructed in memory of the heroic people who served on the first ship, as well as the passengers who sadly shared their fate," Mr Palmer was quoted as saying yesterday by AFP.

He has earlier indicated that Titanic II will pretty much follow on the original specifications of its predecessors though the new design carries bits of improvements such as its heftier weight that is estimated to reach at least 40,000 tonnes.

The whole Titanic II frame will house nine decks that in turn will be packed with 840 rooms, Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer's grand plan has so far attracted the attention of thousands who had expressed willingness to be part of Titanic II's initial foray, which will retrace the original travel plan of the first one - from England to America and vice versa.

"Titanic II will be a regular feature on the transatlantic route between the UK and USA," the maverick billionaire said.

He also claimed that "more than 20,000 people have registered on Blue Star Line's website expressing an interest in receiving regular updates from us or requesting information on how to secure bookings for Titanic II's maiden voyage."