Not so Safe Safety Drill

[tropicalescape]

5 people fell 65 ft from a cruise ship while conducting a saftey drill in the Canary Islands..All 5 have died..

[mbianka]

Here's the story:
Five crew killed in Canaries cruise ship safety drill | Reuters

Turns out five crew were killed when the life boat they were in fell 65 feet and landed upside down. Mechanical failure or early release of the securing hook? Hopefully some video of the incident will show the cause. Can't be to comforting to the passengers to see that happen. Tough on the crew and the families of those who died too. Just a reminder that even the routine can be deadly on the water.

[Kettlewell]

Not sure what the answer is, but I think there is actually a danger in practicing something so much that it becomes routine and you stop thinking during the process. A little healthy fear often sharpens the senses. I hate to even mention it, but look at all the people who shoot themselves while cleaning their weapons, or the number of carpenters missing fingers.

[GrowleyMonster]

In the old open lifeboats we always held on to the manropes while the boat was being lowered. Another reason to hate enclosed lifeboats. They are deathtraps.

Now more ships are going with the free-fall lifeboats. I think I would rather jump over the rail and meet the lifeboat after it is launched!