Posted on 06/20/2022 8:11:53 PM PDT by texas booster
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant capsized and sank in the South China Sea just five days after the 76-meter vessel was towed from Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter last Tuesday.
Jumbo's owner, Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Limited, announced the "death" of the vessel, saying it was hit by a thunderstorm as it was sailing near the Paracel Islands on Saturday afternoon.
"Water got into the boat and it started to list. The tow company tried to save it but in vain," it said.
The vessel eventually fully listed and capsized on Sunday. No crew members were injured.
"The vessel sank more than 1,000 meters deep. It will be difficult for a salvage operation to be conducted," the company said. "Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises is sorrowful and heartbroken about the accident."
The company said it is still liaising with the tow company to understand details of the accident.
But it said professional marine engineers were hired to check the boat and installed hoardings before it left Hong Kong. It also acquired all necessary approvals before the voyage.
The seafood restaurant was towed from Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter at noon last Tuesday to an undisclosed shipyard outside of Hong Kong after it became a landmark in Southern District of Hong Kong Island for 46 years.
It is understood the vessel was on its way to somewhere in Southeast Asia as the shipyard had requested the ship's new location remain undisclosed.
Before it departed Hong Kong, the parent company said: "Throughout this journey, it has been a great honor for us to share beautiful collective memories with local and foreign visitors."
After the news broke yesterday, Hongkongers were sad about the loss of the vessel.
A netizen said: "So it becomes an underwater attraction."
But some netizens felt skeptical about the incident. One wrote: "They're obviously throwing it in the high seas like trash."
The restaurant's parent company announced on May 30 the restaurant was leaving Hong Kong as it could not find a new operator and there was no berth to moor the ship.
For almost half a century, the Jumbo and its smaller vessel, Tak Pak Restaurant, were destinations for families and tourists. Tak Pak remains in the Aberdeen shelter.
Jumbo suspended operations in March 2020 amid the pandemic.
Great, another underwater obstacle for our subs to try to dodge.
The restaurant business is very difficult with a lot of competition. It’s hard to stay afloat.
Our?
The subs serve the military industrial complex.
The entrepreneur might have served a nice meal. Made a few lives better.
I have eaten on it twice. That was some Amazing food.
Opened in 1976 by the late casino tycoon Stanley Ho, in its glory days it embodied the height of luxury, reportedly costing more than HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) to build. The 76m vessel could house 2,300 diners.
It was also featured in several films - including Steven Soderbergh's Contagion, about a deadly global pandemic.
Melco said last month the business had not been profitable since 2013 and cumulative losses had exceeded HK$100 million.
It was still costing millions in maintenance fees every year and about a dozen businesses and organisations had declined an invitation to take it over at no charge, Melco added.
2,300 diners at a time is crazy for the US (except maybe Las Vegas buffets), but this was indeed as much a tourist attraction as it was a very good restaurant.
A friend had eaten on the ship and thought that they did a very good job, considering the obstacles the crew and cooks faced.
The kitchen barge developed a leak in January and it nearly sank in the harbor.
It may even harder for a restaurant to stay afloat if someone removed a few stopcocks in the barge.
Accident or……..?
Can we assume it was insured to the hilt?
More than a few suspected the Hong Kong equivalent of J*wish lightning causing the barge to sink. Out by the Paracel Islands, in 3000’ of water.
But in all fairness, the kitchen portion of the boat almost sank in January.
No question this was deliberate.
Maybe they knew the business was never coming back and sunk it for insurance money.
That really is a shame.
Cantonese is my favorite. I bet the food on that was delicious. An special event.
It died of COVID.
I did not know it was actually a boat! I thought it was a building in the water that looked sort of like a boat. Many of the locals thought it was kind of gauche but I liked it.
I also dined there over the years. I passed by it on ship every time I came into Hong Kong. To me that restaurant was Hong Kong.
Gutter oil vendors hardest hit
Maybe they could turn it into a sushi bar
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