A luxury cruise ship valued at £22 million capsized while moored at a dock in China after being struck by a powerful typhoon. The vessel, named Mingzhu Qihao (also known as Pearl No.7), was hit by Typhoon Bavi on Tuesday night, causing it to become unstable and tilt dramatically.
Incident Details
The 158-metre-long and 30-metre-wide ship was moored at the Ou River Road Yangfushan Puxi platform when it tilted during a spring tide flood, according to local authorities. A spokesman for Wenzhou Mingzhu Cruise Company stated: "The idle pontoon ship 'Mingzhu Qihao', which was moored at the Ou River Road Yangfushan Puxi platform, tilted during a spring tide flood. We immediately activated the contingency plan and relevant departments quickly arrived to handle the situation. The exact cause is under further investigation."
No Casualties Reported
No one was on board the hotel-style ship, which does not have a motor, and there have been no reports of injuries. Emergency services responded within minutes and implemented measures to stabilise the vessel. A staff member told local media that teams were on site managing the situation and confirmed no casualties.
Background of the Vessel
Built in 2012, the ship has remained largely unused for the past 14 years. Plans to transform it into a luxury five-star floating hotel with restaurants and high-end suites were derailed by a series of setbacks. Previous efforts to relocate and moor the ship elsewhere faced opposition from local residents concerned about obstructed views, while ongoing technical and financial challenges repeatedly postponed its planned launch.
Investigation Underway
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident. The dramatic tilt has drawn renewed attention to the ship's troubled past and raised questions about its future at the dock.
