A falling lifeboat from the world’s largest luxury liner causes deaths, injuries

A LIFEBOAT has fallen from its moorings aboard the world’s largest luxury liner — Harmony of the Seas — killing one person and injuring four.

The luxury liner Harmony of the Seas. Picture: Royal Caribbean International

A FILIPINO crewman has died during a safety drill on the world’s biggest cruise liner, the Harmony of the Seas, while it was docked in Marseille, a city official said.

The 42-year-old and four other crew members were in a lifeboat that plunged 10 metres into the water during a safety drill in the southern French port on Tuesday.

Three other Filipinos and an Indian man were hurt in the incident, and two were fighting for their lives.

The world's biggest cruise liner the Harmony of the Seas is docked in the French port of Marseilles, southern France. Picture: AFP

A fire service spokesman said: “One person is dead and four are injured, including two whose lives are in danger.”

Marseille’s deputy mayor Julien Ruas told AFP the five were the only people in the lifeboat at the time when it became detached from its fastenings and “fell 10 metres” into the harbour.

The city’s prosecutor Xavier Tarabeux said a similar drill is carried out every week on the ship.

“It involves putting a lifeboat to sea,” he said.

The BOARDWALK on Deck 8 of Harmony of the Seas, 10-story dry slide (Abyss) & Zip Line (tried it...bit scary & fun). pic.twitter.com/aSnpMDYEKq

— Healthy Clean Eating (@EatCleanFoods) September 3, 2016

An investigation has been opened to find out why “the cable or the fastenings” holding the lifeboat in place gave way, the prosecutor said. The boat “fell suddenly into the water,” he added.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement: “We are keeping our colleagues and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”

The Harmony of the Seas sailed into Marseille early Tuesday from the Spanish Mediterranean island of Majorca.

@RoyalCaribbean's HARMONY OF THE SEAS had 6,177 passengers onboard. It is so huge, we still get lost on this ship. pic.twitter.com/OSxGIJGvlo

— Healthy Clean Eating (@EatCleanFoods) September 3, 2016

The ship had been scheduled to set sail for Italy later on Tuesday but the investigation into the lifeboat incident is expected to delay its departure until Wednesday at the earliest, the prosecutor said.

The 120,000-tonne liner operated by Florida-based Royal Caribbean only entered service in May.

At 66 metres, it is the widest cruise ship ever built, while its 362-metre length makes it 50 metres longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower.

On its maiden voyage, it sailed from Southampton on England’s south coast to Barcelona.

Lifeboats can be seen attached to the side of the Harmony of the Seas cruise ship as it sails from the STX Saint-Nazaire shipyard, western France. Picture: AFP/Jean-Francois Monier

Built in the STX shipyard in the northwestern French port of Saint-Nazaire, the Oasis-class liner has 16 decks and can carry more than 6000 passengers and 2400 crew.

Among the on-board attractions are “The Ultimate Abyss”, a 10-storey slide from the top deck to the main deck which Royal Caribbean bills as the world’s biggest ship-mounted waterslide.

A giant climbing wall, a rope slide, minigolf, surf simulator, floating jacuzzis, casino and 1400-seat theatre playing Broadway musicals are among the other attractions.

Royal Caribbean has ordered a sister ship of the Harmony to join its fleet in 2018.