THOMSOM MAJESTY boat drill accident

[victor radio74]

5 crew dead (3 Indonesian,1 Filipino and 1 Ghanaian) and 3 injures in the Canary island of La Palma,in what appears as an accident when a boat fell down in a drill http://www.diariodeavisos.com/simulacro-salvamento-crucero-se-convierte-en-accidente-real/

[Barry Dewling]

..

Five crew killed in cruise ship safety drill
Reuters

[ventuari]

Hi guys.
...Yes, a bad and sad day for Santa Cruz de La Palma port.
I just came from the site. Thomson Majesty lifeboat drill ends with 5 crew dead and 3 injured ( last info available, five dead inside the boat )
When a said ends, I mean that the drill was almost finished and the lifeboat where hanging in the davit more than 20 meters up, in it's way to be locked back in position, and suddenly fall down to the water in inverted position.
I have some pictures, I

[lappino]

Thanks Ventuari for the info.

I can only guess at this point, but I've seen life-boat steel wire ropes snapping during tests due to poor condition, when the whole of the wire was oiled, but the part under plastic wraps rusted away...So I always suggest that the ropes close to ends are to be kept without this "protective" covering.

The other possibility is malfunction of the hoisting limit switch on the winch, ending in way too much strain on the wire rope (happenned on Anna Maersk, also with deadly consequences).

Since there are pictures of broken wire, I think that failure of the on-load release mechanism is out of the question.

I don't remember deadlier accident involving LSA training/drill.

RIP for the dead, I wish quick recovery for the injured.