Hong Kong's iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant is towed away
(Picture: AP)The iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Hong Kong has capsized in the South China Sea less than a week after it was towed away from the city.
The 260ft-long vessel faced "adverse conditions" on Saturday after water entered the vessel and it began to tip.
It was passing the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, according to Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises Ltd.
The company said no one was injured but efforts to save the vessel failed and it sunk on Sunday.
"As the water depth at the scene is over 1,000m [it makes it] extremely difficult to carry out salvage works," it said in a statement.
It said the company "is very saddened by this accident".
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant had been a landmark in Hong Kong for more than four decades, serving Cantonese cuisine to more than three million guests including Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Cruise.
It closed in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic and laid off all staff.
Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said the restaurant became a financial burden to its shareholders, with millions of Hong Kong dollars spent on its inspection and maintenance even though it was not in operation.
The restaurant was towed away last Tuesday.
The company said it planned to move it to a lower-cost site where maintenance could be carried out.
It said prior to its departure, the vessel had been thoroughly inspected by marine engineers and hoardings were installed and all relevant approvals were obtained.
“The company is now getting further details of the accident from the towing company,” the statement said.
