A high-end cruise ship capsized in a harbor after a severe storm hit the area. Chinese authorities reported that the massive 158m-long and 30m-wide vessel, named Mingzhu Qihao or Pearl No.7, which cost £22m to construct, tilted over dramatically due to the impact of Typhoon Bavi. The incident occurred at Yangfushan Puxi berth in Wenzhou, China during the evening.
Fortunately, there were no individuals aboard the hotel-style ship at the time of the accident, as it lacked an engine. The ship toppled during extreme tides and heavy rainfall that struck the dock. Promptly, emergency services responded to the scene to stabilize the ship, and an investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the capsizing.
A spokesperson for Wenzhou Mingzhu Cruise Company mentioned that the ship tilted during a spring tide flood and that their emergency plan was activated immediately, with relevant authorities arriving promptly to manage the situation. The exact reason for the incident is still being investigated.
Deer District Emergency Management authorities confirmed that the ship, built in 2012, was not operational and had no crew or passengers on board during the incident. The vessel had been largely unused for the past 14 years due to various setbacks. Despite plans to transform it into a luxury floating hotel with upscale amenities, including restaurants and suites, the project never materialized.
The recent tilt has brought renewed attention to the ship’s troubled past and uncertainties about its future at the dock. Notably, in 2012, the vessel made headlines when it got stuck under Wenzhou Bridge due to its excessive height, leading to further complications for its operations.