A routine, unmanned test of a lifeboat aboard the Carnival Cruise Line ship Carnival Dream resulted in significant damage to the craft while the vessel was docked in Cozumel, Mexico.
The incident occurred during a scheduled inspection when the lifeboat was being lowered. According to the cruise line, a malfunction took place whereby a latch became caught on one of the lowering cables.
This caused the lifeboat to hang precariously from a single point before it detached and fell into the water. The company confirmed that no injuries resulted from the event. Photographic evidence from the scene depicted the bright-orange lifeboat suspended at an angle prior to its descent and showed the damaged craft subsequently adrift in the water near the pier, with sections of it remaining attached to the ship's side.
The Carnival Dream was concluding a 6-night voyage from Galveston, with the incident occurring during its final port call before the scheduled return to Texas.
For more Carnival Dream incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.