A former cruise ship staff captain has filed suit against Royal Caribbean Cruises, alleging he was seriously injured in an accident aboard the Monarch of the Seas in which a cloud of toxic gas escaped from ballast tanks into crew and passenger areas, killing three crewmen.

In a suit filed Wednesday in Miami-Dade Circuit Court, the former second in command on the Monarch, Bjoern Eidissen, of Norway, accused the Miami-based cruise giant of failing to properly maintain and service its ballast tanks, which are used for balance. That, he claims, resulted in the escape of poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas.

News reports at the time called the Sept. 2, 2005, cruise accident in the Port of Los Angeles the worst since the 2003 explosion on the Norway in the Port of Miami. That blast killed eight crew members.

''He was on the ship and rushed in along with other crew members and was exposed to the gas,'' said John H. (Jack) Hickey, a Miami attorney who represents Eidissen. ``We believe he suffered traumatic brain injury.''

In a statement Friday, the cruise line said an onboard rescue team using breathing apparatus recovered the three crew members who had been overcome by gas. It didn't address any involvement by Eidissen in the rescue.

The suit seeks unspecified money damages for Eidissen, who has returned to Norway and is unable to work due to the injuries, according to his attorney.

The lawsuit alleges that ship logs in the engine room and bridge document that passengers and crew ``were exposed to gas for an extended period of time after this accident.''

In its statement, Royal said the incident occurred while the passengers were disembarking. ''None were affected in any way,'' it said. ``At no time were there any reports of dangerous gas levels within crew or guest accommodation or public spaces.''

The cruise line also said the boarding of new passengers was delayed until ``after the U.S. Coast Guard and a variety of other health and safety authorities, including the Los Angeles Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team thoroughly examined the ship and gave their approval for its sailing.''

A certified marine chemist tested the ship and reported it was gas-free, the cruise line said.

According to the suit, crewmen were working to repair a pipe when a huge cloud of lethal hydrogen sulfide gas spewed out of the opened ballast tank. ''A lot of officers were exposed,'' said Hickey.

The cruise line said in addition to the three crewmen who later died, 18 crew members were taken to the hospital, released in good condition and returned to the ship the same day.

One remained in Los Angeles for overnight observation, according to the cruise line.

The staff captain claims that the cruise line refused to provide proper medical treatment. ''His career has been ended now. He can't work and they haven't given him beans,'' said Hickey.

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