Costa Concordia Meets Disaster

The Costa Concordia met disaster on Friday night while sailing off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean with 1,000 crew and about 3,200 passengers on board. A scraping sound and shudder could be heard on the cruise ship just before it started to lean to one side. At first, everyone on board was told that it was an electrical problem, but later chaos ensued as the vessel took on water after hitting rocks off the coast of Giglio Island and started a fall onto the one side.

During the terrifying incident, passengers ran toward the lifeboats on the one side that was accessible. Some passengers have reported that some of the crew helped a few guests onto the lifeboats and then jumped overboard themselves, leaving the remaining crew helpless to cope with the chaos. With queues at the lifeboats and an unbearable wait to reach safety, some passengers jumped into the water as well and swam to safety.

About 42 people were injured and some were taken to hospitals, while helicopters flew out to the ship to pick up passengers off the decks – some in their pajamas. Rescue efforts to locate people unaccounted for were launched as the Costa Concordia fell to rest on its side. At least three survivors were found, but at least six died and about 16 haven’t been located (as of Monday afternoon). Rescuers had to suspend their search on Monday morning due to the ship beginning to shift and move in rough seas, but the search was continued later under improved conditions.

On Saturday, authorities detained Captain Francesco Schettino, and he now faces possible charges of abandoning ship with passengers still on board, causing a shipwreck and manslaughter. Prosecutors have seized the Costa Concordia’s data recorders and are analysing the data. The captain denies abandoning ship, saying that he was the last to leave with his crew and insisting on Italian television that the rocks weren’t on the map he was using.

However, the coast guard says that the waters are mapped well, and local fishermen say the coast of Giglio Island is known for having a rocky sea floor. Authorities say that the cruise vessel was too far inland and are investigating why. One theory as to why the ship was too close to the island is that Schettino was bringing the ship in for a traditional “fly-by” with the island – when those on board wave and the ship sounds its horn. However, on Monday it was reported by an Italian newspaper that the captain may have simply been trying to please his head waiter, who is from the island.

Costa Cruises, which owns and operates the Concordia, says that Schettino may have made a significant human error. The vessel left its pre-programmed route without authorisation or approval, and the captain’s judgment in dealing with the emergency didn’t follow the cruise line’s procedures. However, the company defended its crew, saying that they acted bravely and quickly to help evacuate the over 4,000 people on board under such challenging circumstances.