Tuesday, August 24, 1999 Published at 12:31 GMT 13:31 UK
Liner damaged in Channel collision
Norwegian Dream's damaged bow is littered with containers
Firefighters are battling to contain a blaze on a cargo ship after it collided with a luxury liner carrying more than 2,000 people in the English Channel.
Three people were injured when the Norwegian Dream and the cargo ship Ever Decent were in collision 17 miles off the coast of Margate in Kent. A company spokesman said a further 20 passengers received minor medical treatment.
But the 25-strong crew of the container ship Ever Decent remain at sea attempting to fight a fire on board the stricken boat.
The 52,000-tonne cargo ship, is some 15 miles off Margate under a noxious cloud of smoke.
Arielle Adelman, 16, from Brooklyn, New York said: "We weren't sure if it was going to sink. When I heard the bang I really pictured another Titanic and started running to the deck.
John Chambers, from Carlisle, Cumbria said: "We could see in the distance one of the ships that was on fire and other ships were there that were coming to help."
Rescuers believe the fire on the cargo ship was sparked off as a result of the collision between the two boats.
He said at that stage the Ever Decent's master, Captain Shu, a Taiwanese national, had started taking the boat towards shallow water over a sand bank.
Mr Johnson said the captain was then able to use water ballast to bring the boat back up to a near-upright position.
However, several cargo containers fell into the sea, and others landed on the ruptured bow of the Norwegian Dream.
Lifeboats were launched from Dover and two other English harbours, Margate and Ramsgate, but have not been needed.
Asked whether more controls were needed on Channel shipping, he said: "You could always argue for more controls and I'm quite prepared to but let's see what the inquiry tells us about the cause of this incident."
Pollution experts are assessing the damage, including any threat to beaches on the Kent and Essex coasts.
"However the vessel is 15 miles off shore and is not posing a threat to the shore line."
Pete Coombs, Kent Fire Brigade deputy chief officer, said that it could take at least 24 hours before the blaze was brought fully under control.
Three salvage tug boats are spraying water onto the container ship to try and damp down the flames.
It remains unclear how the accident came to happen in good weather conditions.
The Bahamian-registered Norwegian Dream was on a 13-day cruise of the Scandinavian capitals which also included Germany and Russia.
The Ever Decent, built in 1997, is registered in Taiwan and is owned by the Evergreen Marine Corporation.
Passengers arriving for a cruise on the Norwegian Dream scheduled to start on Tuesday were told the sailing was cancelled.
They will be accommodated on board the boat before being sent home on Wednesday with a refund.