Bahamas-based casino operator Kerzner International plans the world's biggest aquarium, stocked with beluga whales and manta rays, as part of its $5.28 billion bid to build Singapore's second casino resort.
Kerzner's Chief Executive died last Wednesday when a helicopter carrying the 42-year-old gentleman crashed in the Dominican Republic. His father, Sol Kerzner, was in Singapore on Monday to present the concept to Singapore officials.
Tobin Prior, president of Kerzner's international division, said that with 24.2 million gallons of aquatic attractions at the proposed entertainment complex on the resort island of Sentosa, it would be bigger than Sea World Adventure Parks in Florida, which is currently the largest water-based theme park with 19 million gallons.
The aquarium will have a mixture of live marine animals and robotic aquatic creatures, which can be seen from underwater viewing tunnels. Kerzner and its 40-percent partner, CapitaLand, have hired architect Frank Gehry, whose design for the resort consists of two glass-and-steel structures that undulate like billowing sails. Other attractions include the world's largest jellyfish enclosure as well as a man-made coral reef.
The Kerzner-CapitaLand consortium is competing against two other bidders for the project: Malaysia's Genting Bhd and cruise operator Star Cruises Ltd., which have promised to invest at least US$3.1 billion in the proposal, to include roller-coaster rides by entertainment giant Universal Studios.
The Kerzner-CapitaLand alliance is scheduled to make a second presentation to Singapore officials in late November and the project will be awarded by the end of the year.
