According to local reports, three German tourists werekilled after the mast of 24.3-meter classic S/Y Amicitia snapped and crushed them.
The incident reportedly occurred around 1:50–2:15 p.m. offthe coast of Harlingen, The Netherlands, on August 21. Paramedics wereimmediately dispatched to the scene, but were unable to resuscitate thevictims. Their bodies were removed around 4:30 p.m. at the port of Harlingen.No one else was injured.
The tourists — men aged 19, 43, and 48 — were reportedlychartering the yacht for holiday with nine other members of their family andwere on their last day of their vacation. The skipper and his wife were also onboard at the time.
The skipper has been arrested because he is also the ownerof the boat and is therefore responsible, police told a local newspaper. Whilethe cause of the incident is yet to be determined, NLTimes.NLreports that the police are investigating whether the ship’s maintenance was upto date or whether the captain acted recklessly. The investigation is currentlybeing conducted by the Dutch Safety Board. Videofootage highlights the broken wooden mast.
Photo by Discolo5 courtesy of Marine Traffic.
Get more info:
http://www.nltimes.nl/2016/08/21/three-killed-ship-mast-collapse/