HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s iconic floating restaurant Jumbo overturned in the South China Sea less than a week after being withdrawn from the city, the parent company said Monday.
The restaurant encountered “adverse conditions” on Saturday as it passed the Sisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands, into the South China Sea, and water entered the ship and it began to tilt, according to Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Ltd.
The company said no one was injured, but efforts to rescue the ship failed and it capsized on Sunday.
“As the water depth at the scene is over 1,000 meters, (this makes it difficult) to carry out rescue work,” the statement said.
The iconic restaurant, whose past guests included Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise, overturned in the South China Sea this week. AP
It says the company is “very saddened by this incident”.
The nearly 80-meter (260-foot) floating Jumbo Restaurant has been a Hong Kong landmark for more than four decades, serving Cantonese cuisine to more than 3 million guests, including Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise.
Just days after being removed from the city, Hong Kong’s iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant overturned in the South China Sea on Sunday.AP
It closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and cut all its staff. Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said the restaurant has become a financial burden to its shareholders, with millions of Hong Kong dollars spent on its inspection and maintenance, even though it is not in operation.
The restaurant was withdrawn last Tuesday. The company said it plans to move it to a lower-priced location where maintenance can take place.
It says that before leaving the ship was thoroughly inspected by marine engineers and fences were installed and all relevant approvals were obtained.
“The company is now receiving further details about the incident from the towing company,” the statement said.
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