Video: Manned Free Fall Lifeboat World Record Drop

Business & Finance

August 7, 2015

Norwegian life boat manufacturer Norsafe recently set a world record for the highest manned free fall lifeboat drop after the 70 passenger GES50 MKIII was dropped from 40 meters with 10 persons on board at the company’s training and test center in Rosendal.

”The feeling of diving into the water was amazing. It was even more exciting to know that no one else has done this before,” said Michael Røssland, Vice President Norsafe Academy Rosendal.

”The feeling of being weightless for more than 3 seconds of time felt like forever, although the wait up until the actual drop felt much longer. The crew was also surprised of the low G-forces/impact realized during the drop, and were therefore very pleased with the successful endeavor. We knew in advance that there were no risks associated with the dropping of the lifeboat from the 40 meter height.”

Norsafe also holds the world record for highest drop without passengers on board. This record is 66.8 meters, and the drop was carried out with a Norsafe GES52.