Text 8. A fire apparently started by a cigarette broke out aboard a giant cruise ship

A fire apparently started by a cigarette broke out aboard a giant cruise ship early Thursday as it sailed through the Caribbean, leaving one passenger dead, 11 people injured and at least 100 rooms scorched.

The Star Princess, carrying 2,690 passengers and 1,123 crew members, bore evidence of the nighttime drama as it pulled into Montego Bay's port. About 85 exterior cabins were blackened from the fire, metal was twisted, evidence of the heat of the blaze.

A smoldering cigarette is suspected as the cause of the blaze. Passengers grabbed life jackets and raced to "muster stations" after the fire started about 3 a.m. The crew put out the fire, then did a cabin-by-cabin search to check for victims and make sure everyone else was safe.

The fire melted locks on some of the cabins and burned some passengers' luggage.

Richard Liffidge, 75, of Georgia, collapsed and died on deck after suffering cardiac arrest. An autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death.

Two passengers suffered significant smoke inhalation injuries and nine others had minor complications.

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched investigators and fire engineers to help determine the fire's cause and whether the ship was seaworthy. Teams were expected to arrive Thursday afternoon.

Text 9. Fishing boat runs aground

13 June, 2001

A fishing boat with six crew on board has run aground off Shetland.

The Peterhead registered Resplendent is stuck on rocks at the north end of the island of Yell.

Shetland coastguard said the boat was carrying 20,000 litres of diesel, which could be a pollution threat.

Another fishing vessel has been unable to tow the stricken vessel clear, and coastguards say no further attempt will be made until high tide.

Weather conditions are reported to be good and the crew are remaining aboard the vessel.

A coastguard team was sent to the scene with a lifeboat from Lerwick and they have reported no obvious damage to the vessel.

A spokesman for Shetland Coastguard said: "Two local fishing vessels arrived to get a tow line to the Resplendent to try and get her back into the water. However this operation was not successful and further action will be held off until high tide this afternoon. The situation is not serious enough to merit any crew members being removed from the vessel, but we will continue to monitor her stability and watertight integrity closely whilst she remains grounded. There is no environmental risk at the moment".

Text 10. Cruise ship comes to sailor's aid

14 May, 2005

A luxury cruise liner has come to the aid of a yacht which lost a man overboard during a sailing competition.

The sailor from the 51-foot Grandee fell into the sea in a force seven gale on Saturday off the Dorset coast.

The Aurora and another yacht went to the man's aid but the crew managed to get him back aboard after 10 minutes.

Two other people were injured as yachts racing from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to Cherbourg in France were hit by heavy seas in the English Channel.

The coastguard rescue helicopter tried to airlift the man to hospital but this was unsuccessful, and the yacht is now heading for Weymouth, a coastguard spokesman said.

Another yacht, Jeu De Spirite, suffered damage and one crew member has a head injury and she too is heading for Weymouth.

Both yachts were sailing to France in a Royal Ocean Racing Club competition.

The spokesman said that about nine yachts had called for assistance on Saturday, though not all of them were involved in the race.

It is understood that a crew member from one of the yachts has suffered broken ribs.

"Conditions were strong north-easterly winds and rough seas presenting some challenging conditions", said the spokesman.