One crew member was killed and four others injured Tuesday in an accident on the world's biggest cruise ship.

The crew member died from injuries suffered during a lifeboat drill while the Harmony of the Seas ship was docked in Marseille, France, a representative for parent company Royal Caribbean said in a statement. The four other crew members were injured.

Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 meters).

The ship is so large it boasts seven "neighborhoods" -- including a tree-lined Central Park filled with restaurants. </s> A Harmony of the Seas crew member has died and four others have been injured after a lifeboat fell off the world’s biggest cruise ship.

The record-breaking ship, which is operated by Royal Caribbean, is docked in the French port of Marseille.

One person is dead and four are injured, including two whose lives are in danger," a spokesman for the fire service told the AFP news agency.

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Five crew were onboard the lifeboat taking part in a safety drill when it "became detached" from the ship.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean said in a statement: "We are sorry to share the sad news that a crew member aboard Harmony of the Seas has died of injuries suffered during a lifeboat drill conducted while docked at the port of Marseille, France.

"Four other crew members received medical treatment in the same incident. We are keeping our colleagues and their families in our thoughts and prayers."

The liner only had its maiden voyage on 29 May.

Built by shipbuilders STX France, it is the widest ever cruise ship at a maximum of 66m across and is 50m longer than the Eiffel Tower at 362m.

Using its 16 decks, it can carry more than 6,700 passengers and 2,300 crew.

The Independent has contacted STX France for comment. </s> Investigators are trying to determine how a lifeboat fell during a training exercise on the world's largest cruise ship Tuesday, leaving one crew member dead and four others injured.

A 42-year-old Filipino national died after the lifeboat fell about 10 meters during the exercise on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which was docked in Marseille, France, Deputy Mayor Julien Ruas told CNN.

The four other crew members are being treated at a hospital.

Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 meters). </s> PARIS (AP) — A crewmember on the world's largest cruise ship has died and four others were injured when a lifeboat fell from the deck into the water during a rescue drill, the operator and officials in the French port of Marseille said Tuesday.

Cynthia Martinez, a spokeswoman for the Miami-based Royal Caribbean cruise line, told The Associated Press via email that the incident happened while the Harmony of the Seas was docked in the city.

Julien Ruas, a deputy mayor of Marseille, told the AP Tuesday that the lifeboat fell 10 meters (33 feet) or so from the fifth deck of the ship into the sea with the five crew members aboard. He identified the dead crewmember as a 42-year-old Filipino. Circumstances of the accident are still unclear.

Local naval firefighters told the AP one person died, two were seriously injured and two were more lightly injured.

The Harmony of the Seas holds the record for the largest cruise ship ever built, with a 6,360-passenger capacity. According to Royal Caribbean's website, the ship arrived in Europe in May and makes stops in France, Italy and Spain. </s> Story highlights One person killed, four injured in accident on Harmony of the Seas

Accident happened during lifeboat drill while ship docked in the south of France

(CNN) Investigators are trying to determine how a lifeboat fell during a training exercise on the world's largest cruise ship Tuesday, leaving one crew member dead and four others injured.

A 42-year-old Philippines national died after the lifeboat fell about 33 feet (10 meters) during the exercise on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which was docked in Marseille, France, Deputy Mayor Julien Ruas told CNN.

The four other crew members are being treated at a hospital.

Harmony of the Sea as it docked after the tragic deaths

Photos: Harmony of the Seas – Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Harmony of the Seas, makes its debut this weekend in Southampton, England. It's the world's largest cruise ship. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Can fit 6,780 guests – Harmony can fit up to 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew members. It's 1,188 feet long. In comparison, the Eiffel Tower is 984 feet tall. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: The Ultimate Abyss – See those purple, squiggly things in the back of the ship? That's one of Harmony's biggest attractions: The Ultimate Abyss, which the cruise line calls "the tallest slide on the high seas." It takes guests on a 100-foot drop from Deck 16 to Deck 6. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Perfect Storm – Speaking of slides, there's a trio of multi-story water slides called Perfect Storm. One slide features a champagne bowl that swirls you around as you plunge down. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Suites at sea – Included among Harmony's 2,747 staterooms are top-end suites. "We have more suites at sea than any cruise line in the world," says Mark Tamis of Royal Caribbean International. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Bionic Bar – The Bionic Bar is staffed by two robot bartenders. They can make two drinks per minute and 1,000 drinks per day. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Wonderland – Specialty restaurant Wonderland, already a hit on a few other Royal Caribbean vessels, has gotten an upgrade. "It's been expanded on Harmony of the Seas," says Tamis. "It's actually a two-story venue that is going to be dramatically beautiful. " Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Price tag – The cost? Prices start at $1,125 per person for a seven-night tour of the western Mediterranean. Hide Caption 8 of 8

The mammoth vessel first set sail in May, weighing 226,963 tons and accommodating 6,780 guests and 2,100 crew members.

Measuring 1,188 feet (362 meters), the ship is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall. The Paris icon stands at 984 feet (300 meters).

Read More </s> Marseille, France (AP) – A crewmember on the world’s largest cruise ship died and four others were injured Tuesday when a lifeboat fell from the deck into the water during a rescue drill in Marseille, the operator and officials in the southern French port city said.

Julien Ruas, a deputy mayor of Marseille, told The Associated Press that the lifeboat fell about 10 meters (33 feet) from the fifth deck of the Harmony of the Seas into the sea with the five crewmembers aboard. He identified the dead crewmember as a 42-year-old Filipino. Circumstances of the accident are still unclear.

Local naval firefighters told the AP one person died, two were seriously injured and two were more slightly injured in the “violent” fall. All were members of the crew.

“It seems the people didn’t get the time to secure themselves so the fall was quite a violent one, like if you or me fell around 10 meters from a building,” Ruas, who is in charge of firemen, told The Associated Press. He said the reason the lifeboat broke away was not immediately clear.

The Miami-based Royal Caribbean cruise line “deplored” the death and said in a statement that the incident happened during a safety exercise while the ship was docked in the port of the Mediterranean city.

The Harmony of the Seas holds the record for the largest cruise ship ever built, with a capacity of 8,690 people, including 6,300 passengers and 2,390 crew members. The $1 billion ship was built in France and set sail for its inaugural cruise in May.

At 362 meters (1,187 feet) long, the 16-deck ship is longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower. It’s been compared to a floating city with more than 2,500 staterooms, 20 dining venues, 23 swimming pools, water slides, a park with more than 10,000 plants and 50 trees, two climbing walls, discos and bar clubs, a theater, a skating rink, a basketball court and a casino. </s> A Filipino crewman was killed Tuesday 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 (35 feet) into the water during a safety drill in the southern French port.

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

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.

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.

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 (217 feet), 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.

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 6,000 passengers and 2,400 crew.

Among the onboard 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, mini-golf, surf simulator, floating jacuzzis, casino and 1,400-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. </s> One person has died and another four have been injured, two critically, after a lifeboat detached from the world's biggest cruise liner and reportedly plummeted 32 feet.

The Harmony of the Seas was docked in the French port of Marseille when the lifeboat, with five people on board, broke free from the vessel and fell.

A spokesman for the local fire service said: ' One person is dead and four are injured, including two whose lives are in danger.

According to local news website 20Minutes.fr, the five people on the lifeboat were members of the ship's navigation crew.

However, there was no immediate confirmation of reports that they had been taking part in a safety drill at the time.

Julien Ruas from Marseille marine rescue service told the website, the lifeboat fell around '10 metres' with the five people inside.

He added that the dead member of crew was a man from the Philippines.

It is believed the vessel is currently on an eight day cruise around the Mediterranean having left Rome on September 8.

It has already stopped in Naples, Barcelona and Majorca before arriving in Marseille earlier today.

The 227,000-tonne liner operated by Florida-based Royal Caribbean only just entered service in May.

At 66 metres (217 feet), 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.

It has 16 decks and can carry more than 6,000 passengers and 2,400 crew.

The cruise liner has been dubbed a floating city as it boasts 20 restaurants, 23 swimming pools and almost 2,500 rooms.

It also has a cinema, promenade, an entertainment palace, spa and fitness facilities.

However, on the ship's inaugural voyage, it was branded a 'floating construction site' that put passengers at risk.

People on board for a trip from Southampton to Rotterdam and a subsequent sailing to Cherbourg complained contractors were still carrying out vital work on board.

Gaping holes were left in floors and walls, the hot water cut out, 90 per cent of children's rides were out of service and sleep was impossible in some rooms as drilling carried on through the night.

They also said the top deck of the 1,188ft-long vessel was littered with hazards including loose cables, blow torches, open paint tins and power tools.

A spokesperson for the company replied at the time: 'As always, Royal Caribbean's highest priority is to ensure the safety of all its guests and crew members and any final maintenance is being carried out in accordance with strict safety guidelines.' </s> It'll be a big day for the cruise world as Royal Caribbean's record-breaking Symphony of the Seas sails with paying passengers for the first time.

The 206,912-tonne vessel - the largest cruise ship ever - is departing Barcelona Saturday evening on a five-night voyage to Italy that features stops in Naples and Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.

Designed for holiday-makers who love big, bustling mega-resorts, Symphony is built on the same platform as Royal Caribbean's 22-month-old Harmony of the Seas, the previous size leader in cruising. But it eclipses its sibling by more than 1,000 tons and offers several new features.

Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS World's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas leaving Shipyard STX in Saint-Nazaire, France, on March 24.

Among the additions are a first-of-its-kind, two-deck-high family suite with a slide between floors, a revamped Boardwalk amusement area, a new laser tag attraction and a new-for-Royal Caribbean seafood restaurant. Symphony also has more cabins than Harmony.

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Symphony can hold up to 6,680 passengers and sails with a crew of 2,200, meaning that on busy weeks it could be home to nearly 9,000 people.

1 of 6 Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS World's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas has everything. 2 of 6 Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS How about taking a nap on one of these loungers. 3 of 6 Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS You can even surf on the world's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas. 4 of 6 Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS World's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas is ready for its maiden voyage. 5 of 6 Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS There's something for everyone on the world's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas, even a water slide. 6 of 6 Julien Rambaud/ANDBZ/ABACAPRESS World's largest cruise ship Symphony of the Seas is heading off on its maiden voyage.

Symphony has been under construction since early 2015 at the giant STX France shipyard in St Nazaire, France - the same shipyard that built Harmony. Built at a cost of more than US$1 billion, it was delivered to Royal Caribbean in St Nazaire on March 23 and has spent the past week re-positioning to Barcelona.

Symphony will spend its first few months sailing in the Mediterranean out of Barcelona before moving to Miami to operate cruises to the Caribbean.

Symphony and Harmony are the latest, biggest vessels in Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class series. Two other Oasis Class ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, debuted in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class vessels have made waves in the cruise industry since they began debuting in 2009. All of the Oasis Class ships are in excess of 225,000 tons -- more than 30 per cent larger than the next largest cruise vessels.

With the addition of Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has 25 ships.

- USA Today
One crew member of the MS Harmony of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, is killed and four other crew members are injured after a lifeboat fell on them during a training exercise on the ship that was docked in Marseille, France.