MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Caribbean cruise vessel fire kills one and injures 11

A fire apparently started by a cigarette spread smoke through a cruise ship in the Caribbean Thursday, killing an American, injuring 11 other people and damaging about 150 cabins, officials said.

The "Star Princess" was en route from Grand Cayman to Jamaica when the blaze started at about 03:00 a.m., according to a statement from Princess Cruises, which is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.

Richard Liffidge, 75, of Georgia, collapsed and died on deck, said Karl Angell, communications director for the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The victim's wife was taken to a hospital in Montego Bay. Two passengers suffered "significant smoke inhalation injuries" and nine others had "minor complications," the cruise company said in a statement. Two people were hospitalized in Montego Bay, Jamaica and two others were being treated in the ship's clinic, Jamaica's disaster office said.

Horace Peterkin, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, toured the scorched ship after it docked in Montego Bay and said crew members told him the fire apparently started on a cabin balcony. A cigarette was suspected of causing the fire, which damaged about 150 cabins, speculated Peterkin.

The vessel which left Fort Lauderdale March 19 was carrying 2,690 passengers and 1,123 crew members. The Princess Cruises Web site said the Star Princess has more than 700 balcony staterooms and four pools.

Peterkin added that 550 passengers whose cabins were damaged will be moved to two hotels in nearby Negril and Ocho Rios. The cruise ship company was arranging to fly other passengers home, he said.

However "the ship was not seriously damaged and will sail back to Fort Lauderdale on Friday", revealed Peterkin, but there was no immediate confirmation from cruise line officials. "The ship is seaworthy; they'll sail out tomorrow."

When the fire-blackened Star Princess docked in Montego Bay no smoke was seen coming from the vessel. All passengers remained on the ship and some were seen milling on the decks. The starboard side of the ship, which faced dockside, showed no damage but dozens of cabins on the other side appeared to be charred.

Because the Star Princess carries a Bermuda flag, the lead investigative agency will be Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch, but the US Coast Guard will "participate as a substantially interested state" said Petty Officer James Judge in Miami.

The Coast Guard regularly inspects all cruise ships that embark U.S. passengers. The Star Princess was last inspected on Oct. 25, 2005, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and had "no outstanding discrepancies" pointed out Judge.