Troubled Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff has declined an offer of up to £500million to build Titanic II, claims Australian billionaire Clive Palmer.
He says he also offered a £100million contribution to help bail out the company, which is battling for survival under heavy debts.
Harland & Wolff built the original Titanic and Mr Palmer has been touting for years that he wants to construct a replica with period design and modern safety features. His company Mineralogy holds nearly three per cent of the issued capital in the shipbuilder.
‘They are clearly in dire straits and will not even agree to a face-to-face meeting with me,’ Mr Palmer said.
Harland & Wolff said it was not commenting on any of the interested parties while strategic options were being assessed.