A British captain of a luxury cruise liner that sailed straight past three drifting fishermen, two of whom later died, is said to be "devastated" after he was not told of the men's plight.
The Panamanian fishermen had been adrift in a tiny open boat in the Pacific Ocean for 16 days and had no food left when the 290m- long Star Princess sailed into view.
They waved for help, and passengers on the ship's deck spotted them, took photographs and alerted the crew. But, to the amazement of the fishermen and the passengers, the ship did not stop and pick them up.
That night, Elvis Oropeza Betancourt, 31, captain of the fishing vessel, died from lack of water and exposure. A second fisherman, Fernando Osario, 16, perished five days later.
The sole survivor, Adrian Vasquez, 18, rescued 12 days later, survived on rainwater and fish.
The cruise liner's operator, California-based Princess Cruises, said the messages from passengers had never reached the captain, Edward Perrin.
"Understandably, Captain Perrin is devastated that he is being accused of knowingly turning his back on people in distress."
The operator said its ships had been involved in more than 30 rescues in the past decade.
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