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A tow line being used to pull the Carnival Triumph snapped this afternoon, setting back the efforts to bring the damaged cruise ship and its 3,143 passengers to port in Mobile, Alabama. Coast Guard Petty Officer William Colclough told the AP the ship is "dead in the water and when they reconnect safely, they then proceed on their way."

Friends of the Earth , a global network of activists from 76 different countries, has come out with its annual cruise ship score card that evaluates cruise lines based on three environmental factors – sewage treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance.

Disney Cruise Line came away with top honors, an A minus, scoring high in all three areas.

Here's a look at how the cruise lines fared in each category:

Top three for sewage treatment:
Disney Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises

Bottom three for sewage treatment:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Silversea Cruises
Costa Cruises

Top three for air pollution reduction:
Princess Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line

Bottom three for air pollution reduction:
Silversea Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises

Top three for water quality compliance:
Silversea Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Bottom two for water quality compliance:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Holland America Line

Click here for more complete details of the Cruise Ship Report Card.

[Photo Credit- Flickr user NOAA's National Ocean Service]

For a fabulous vacation inspired by the Fab 4, Royal Caribbean's mega-ship Oasis of the Seas will host the Beatles Tribute Cruise 2012. Sailing from Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades, the 7-night tribute to John, Paul, George and Ringo will hit the seas on February 4, 2012.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas was at the port of Gibraltar on Tuesday when a fuel tank exploded on the pier, injuring several passengers and forcing a hasty departure that left passengers behind.