Cruise ship saves
tanker crew after fire

---

Staff and wire reports

Eleven crewmembers aboard an Indonesian fuel tanker which had been drifting for more than two weeks were rescued this morning by the cruise ship Norwegian Star, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.

One crewmember was scheduled to be picked up by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and taken to Kuakini Medical Center for treatment. The man is believed to have suffered burns over half of his body from a fire aboard the 256-foot-long Indonesian-registered Insiko on March 13.

Another crewmember died in the fire. The Coast Guard said the vessel has been without power and has been drifting ever since.

The Norwegian Star spotted the disabled vessel about 220 miles south of the Big Island around 1:45 a.m., said Lt. Mia Dutcher, Coast Guard spokeswoman, after the crew of the Insiko signaled the cruise ship.

"They were able to sight the Norwegian Star and they launched a flare," Dutcher said. "The Norwegian Star diverted and when they got on scene the crew abandoned ship."

The crew also lit a small signal fire on their vessel.

The Norwegian Star departed Hilo yesterday on its way to Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati.

The Coast Guard cutter Assateague is expected to reach the cruise ship this afternoon to take custody of the crew members and take them to Kona, where they will be turned over to the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Dutcher said.