MONTEVIDEO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A luxury cruise ship and a barge collided in Uruguay's main port on Monday, sending several cars and containers off the barge and shutting the port down, the navy said.

The Norwegian Dream cruise ship, owned by Miami-based NCL Corp., was leaving Montevideo when it collided with a barge being pulled by a tug, a navy spokesman said.

Navy divers were searching for the cars that fell of the barge.

"The collision caused five containers and several cars to fall in the water. ... The cruise ship received damages above the water line which do not appear serious," said Alejandro Anon, head of naval public relations.

According to Norwegian Cruise Line's Web site, the Norwegian Dream left Buenos Aires on Sunday and after Montevideo was planning to travel to southern Argentina and Chile. (Reporting by Conrado Hornos, writing by Fiona Ortiz, editing by Doina Chiacu)

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