If you're going to spend $2.5 million on a yacht, you'd like it to be able to float. Alas, the SS Jiugang wasn't able to meet that basic requirement. The Chinese vessel made her maiden voyage in the Yellow River. Although "voyage" probably isn't the right word. "Fiasco" is more appropriate, because the boat instantly sank as it was pushed into the water. The above video of the vessel's inglorious found its way to tech blog Gizmodo. It's both heartbreaking and hilarious, watching the excited people push the boat into the river only to watch the boat's stern quickly sink into the muddy waters. (Cue Celine Dion, and the sweeping "Titanic" theme, "My Heart Will Go On.") According to Gizmodo, the accident was caused by "improper handling from the builders who mistakenly estimated the water level causing the water level to exceed the limit." Either way, rescue workers eventually pulled the boat from the water for repairs. No word on how much what it cost to retrieve the beleaguered vessel. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
Comments: Dragon Dawn Nothing wrong with that yacht, the problem was too steep a launch angle. Remember, China is the world's largest shipbuilder and it did not get there for nothing. All the world's largest oil tanker are made in China and the Saudi never complains. The simple reason that yacht sink was the people launching it were all bureaucrats trying their hands in front of the free press. The launch angle was simply a DIVE and any ships/boats at that angle WILL take in water and escalate into a SINK event. In short, the launch is bad, not the yacht.
I'm not surprise by americans out on a field day to get a good laugh like that ostrich in the sand about its economy. Keep up the "feel good" party americans, your economy is sinking faster than that yacht.
robert I live in China, and the video is already blocked from viewing, but I am gettin a laugh from all the posts here. Typical Chinese spin.
NO911SHEEP sorry man, You'd think a Govt wouldn't block so much and censor a ship sinking. But then again, wall street is sinking and a word about the jews doing it gets censored in states too.
Rainiel: Actually there were two chinese engineers who had discussion on what project it should be, should it be submarine or a yacht, and they agreed to have a boat that sink... Its a chinese design what would you expect!!!
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