Inquiry slams cruise liner sinking

Inquiry slams cruise liner sinking

SINGAPORE (AFP): An investigation into the sinking of the cruise liner Sun Vista has cited serious deficiencies in the ship and questioned whether it should even have been carrying passengers, a report said on Tuesday.

The Singapore-owned, Bahamas-registered liner was in such poor mechanical condition that "emergency measures became routine", the Business Times said, quoting from an investigation report by the Bahamas Maritime Authority.

The Sun Vista had 1,090 people on board when it caught fire and sank in the Straits of Malacca off the Malaysian state of Penang in May 1999. All of the passengers and crew of various nationalities were rescued.