By The Associated Press, Associated Press
Shipping authorities in Bermuda are investigating whether the officers and crew of an American-owned luxury cruise ship failed in their duty to help a vessel in distress after passengers spotted a small open boat drifting off the coast of Panama last month.
Minister of Transport Derrick Burgess said in a statement that failure to help a vessel in distress is an offense under shipping law in Bermuda, where the Star Princess is registered.
Some birdwatchers say they notified a sales representative on the ship when they spotted a small boat drifting and a man waving a shirt, but the ship never stopped.
Two Panamanian fishermen died before a third was rescued two weeks later.
Princess Cruises has said there was a communications breakdown and the ship's officers were not informed.
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