Although boats are meant to get wet, the launch of a multi-million dollar pleasure cruiser proved wetter than expected.
There was a shock in store for the owners of the luxury vessel 'SS Jiugang', worth over 17 million yuan ($2,663,000 when it sank stern first into the Yellow River outside Lanzhou city, Gansu Province on what was supposed to be its maiden voyage
The boat, privately owned by Lanzhou's Jiugang Group, was launched proudly down the makeshift slipway only to immediately sink into the murky water and become stranded for some time. Fortunately, there were no passengers on board and no one was injured in the event.
The accident was blamed on "improper handling" by the boat's builders who, apparently, "mistakenly estimated the water level" causing the river water to flood into the back of the boat. Neither the Jiugang Group, nor the Lanzhou Ministry of Transportation which oversaw its construction, have taken direct responsibility for the incident.
Once certain 'technical problems' are resolved, such as pumping out the river water, making good the damage and ensuring the boat actually floats, the “SS Jiugang” will be relaunched about one month later than scheduled.
Once in the water, the boat will be the largest and most luxurious in Lanzhou, with a total length of 32 metres, an 80 person capacity and a top speed of 22kmh.