Titanic II's 'safety deck' announced by Clive Palmer, Australian billionaire building the ship

Clive Palmer, the Australian billionaire who is building a modern-day replica of the Titanic, announced Tuesday (July 17) that his ship will retain the first, second and third-class divisions from the original ship but also include a new "safety deck," reports the AFP.

The original ship had nine decks that encompassed the first through third classes, but Titanic II will have a tenth deck, which will feature proper lifeboats, safety chutes and slides and new public common rooms.

"This is to ensure the vessel is fully compliant with the current regulations which require passenger ships to, as much as possible and practicable, keep the distance from the lifeboat launching area to the waterline as low as possible," says Palmer in a statement.

The plans for Titanic II also include new escape stairs and service elevators. This first voyage of teh ship is planned for late 2016, where it will sail from China to England. That trip will not be the maiden passenger voyage, however -- the maiden passenger voyage will retrace the original Titanic's route. Palmer has said interest is "overwhelming."