Passengers were evacuated from the ship

A Miami Coast Guard official said the fire was started by an explosion in the boiler room on the SS Norway, possibly caused by a steam leak.

More than 2,000 passengers were evacuated unharmed from the ship, which is operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Eight of the injured crew are reported to be in critical condition in hospital.

Cruise postponed

The explosion occurred about two hours after the SS Norway had docked in Miami at 0500 (0900GMT) on Sunday, following a one-week Caribbean cruise.

The liner had docked shortly before the explosion

The explosion was so powerful that four crew members were thrown into the water, and it was heard throughout the ship.

"I didn't pay any attention at first, I thought we just hit the dock. But then the lights went out," said passenger Ken Hunt.

The SS Norway's scheduled Sunday departure for its next cruise has been postponed, so that the damage can be examined.

The SS Norway was launched in the early 1960s as the SS France, and at the time it was the longest cruise ship in the world at 313 metres (1,035 feet).

Initially used for trans-Atlantic voyages in competition with the Queen Elizabeth II, it was taken out of service in the mid-1970s.

In 1979, it was bought for its scrap metal value and refitted for luxury cruises.