Last February , Miami - based Carnival Cruise Lines ' 700-foot Celebration cut a Cuban freighter in half in a collision off Cuba , killing three Cuban ##s . In March 1988 , an engine fire broke out on SeaEscape 's Bahamian cruise ship , the Scandinavian Star . Many of them sail under the so-called flags of convenience of Liberia, Panama and the Bahamas. Automatic fire started and the emergency generator failed . The National Transportation Safety Board said many foreign - flag cruise ships that sail from U.S. ports have serious safety problems and the potential for a catastrophic fire is significant . The board is seeking both legislation and voluntary cooperation from the industry to improve cruise - ship safety , which it says is marred by the less - than - exacting rules governing foreign - flag carriers .
Last February , Miami - based Carnival Cruise Lines ' 700-foot Celebration cut a Cuban freighter in half in a collision off Cuba , killing three Cuban ##s . In March 1988 , an engine fire broke out on SeaEscape 's Bahamian cruise ship , the Scandinavian Star . Automatic fire started and the emergency generator failed . The National Transportation Safety Board said many foreign - flag cruise ships that sail from U.S. ports have serious safety problems and the potential for a catastrophic fire is significant . The board is seeking both legislation and voluntary cooperation from the industry to improve cruise - ship safety , which it says is marred by the less - than - exacting rules governing foreign - flag carriers .