Cruise Liner Costa Concordia Aground in Italy - 30 Dead & 2 Unaccounted For

[MuffyBee]

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347393
Costa Concordia news: Ship's bell is missing, platform in place
April 6, 2013

A crucial underwater platform that will help to raise the Costa Concordia was put into place last week at the wreckage site off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio. Also, late in March the ship's bell went missing.
The platform, referred to as Platform Number One is the fourth to be put in place and largest of six to be used; it weighs 1,000 tons and is 40 m. by 33 m. and will support the ship when it is pushed up by giant, expanding balloons underneath the submerged side of the ship. Once raised it will be towed to the port of Piombino for scrapping.
 ::snipping2::
Meanwhile, the ship's bell was seemingly stolen in March and a thief or thieves somehow evaded laser security and found their way to the bell. Authorities in Italy have said they believe it may have been an inside job, suspecting a diver or divers working on the wreck removed it to keep as a memento.
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-costa-concordia-fine-20130410,0,2757099.story
Costa Concordia firm fined $1.3 million for shipwreck off Italy
April 10, 2013

ROME -- The operator of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which struck rocks and partially sank off Italy last year, killing 32 people, agreed  Wednesday to pay a $1.3-million fine to avoid a possible criminal trial.

A judge in Tuscany accepted the plea agreement for Costa Crociere, a division of Miami-based Carnival Corp., in connection with the shipwreck off the island of Giglio in January 2012.

The company will not face trial, but a hearing is scheduled Monday in Tuscany to determine whether six of the firm’s employees --  including the vessel’s captain, Francesco Schettino, who is accused of steering the vessel ontothe  rocks --  must stand trial on charges that include manslaughter.

U.S. lawyer John Arthur Eaves Jr., who represents 150 of the 4,000 passengers and crew members, said the accident was “primarily the fault of Carnival and its subsidiary Costa Crociere” and that the companies should have faced charges. He described the plea agreement as “a tragedy.”

Italian consumer group Codacons, which also represents passengers, described the fine as “a slap to the survivors and most of all to the relatives of the victims of the shipwreck.”
“The responsibility of the company for the shipwreck on Giglio is more than evident, as are the many shortcomings in the safety systems on the Costa Concordia,” Codacons said in a statement.

Former passengers have said poor staff training led to a chaotic evacuation of the vessel as crew members struggled to release lifeboats.

Marco de Luca, a lawyer for Costa Crociere, called the plea agreement “the most reasonable solution.” The company has blamed Schettino for the disaster.
Schettino allegedly rammed the Costa Concordia into the coast of Giglio during an attempt to sail close to the island,  a practice called "taking a bow." Rocks tore a long gash in the side of the 950-foot vessel that caused it to take on water and list before grounding in shallow water. He could face 20 years in jail.

“Carnival and Costa Crociere set the standards that allowed this to happen, permitting captains to change routes and allowing crew that didn’t speak the same language to work together,” Eaves said. “A 1-million euro fine will not get them to change their ways.”

Costa Crociere still faces civil lawsuits by the relatives of passengers who drowned while trying to flee the ship, as well as by survivors who have turned down the firm’s starting offer of about $14,400 per person in compensation.

Eaves said he was due to take depositions from Carnival Chief Executive  Micky Arison and members of the firm’s safety committee about company safety measures before potential civil proceedings. Eaves is seeking $5 million in compensation for each of the passengers he represents.

The plea agreement means Costa Crociere may pursue legal action as an injured party. It has said it will seek payment of damages for the loss of the ship.

Codacons spokesman Stefano Zerbi said it would have been preferable to see Costa Crociere "stand trial alongside its staff."

 “It is a legal paradox," Zerbi said, "that the firm can pay this fine and then simply reappear at a trial as an injured party, as a victim."
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/347920
Bollywood to tackle making a movie of Costa Concordia tragedy
April 13, 2013

ollywood in the form of a film company from India that shoots in the Tamil language is going to Italy to make a movie about the disaster that was the Costa Concordia. However, they won't be able to film on the island of Giglio.
"The community on the island's understandably very sensitive. We are trying to find another island in the archipelago where they can shoot," Raffaella Conti of Toscana Film Commission, told media Friday, April 12th.
The area of Tuscany where Giglio, and the capsized Costa Concordia, are situated is promoting itself as a film-making region. The film won't exactly be considered 'Bollywood' but will rather go by a new phrase making the film community rounds - Kollywood. It combines Bollywood, which of course got it's name from Hollywood, and Kodambakkam; Kodambakkam is an area of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, in southeast India
Hollywood, Bollywood, Kollywood
And while on the subject of something not quite being something else, the film won't quite be the story of the Costa Concordia. Conti said the plot line draws from the real story of the 114,500 ton cruise ship with a slight variation. But you be the judge, here is Conti's description of the plot. "A group of tourists find themselves on a desert island as a result of a shipwreck."
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/348034
Costa Concordia's Schettino in court to see if charges to be laid
April 16, 2013

The tragedy that was the Costa Concordia continues to make news as the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, and five others, were in court in Grosetto, Italy, on Monday to begin a hearing that will determine if they can be charged for the disaster.
 ::snipping2::
Schettino may face multiple charges
This pre-trial hearing is expected to last until April 24 and Schettino, 52, and the other five were in attendance at the courtroom Monday and must continue to attend. The prosecution is seeking to charge the others with such infractions as manslaughter and failing to cooperate with marine authorities. They seek to charge Schettino with manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning his ship.
That last charge arises from the fact that Schettino left the Costa Concordia well before the ship had been evacuated. On that night he maintained, and has since, that he "tripped" into a lifeboat and was unable get back onto the Costa Concordia. His abandoning the ship, and his reason for having done so, earned him the nickname 'The Chicken of the Sea' in Italy.
Schettino's lawyer doesn't believe Judge Pietro Molino will decide in favor of the charges being laid. "This was an accident at work," Francesco Pepe told reporters during a break in the proceedings. "You cannot criminalize a man because he had an accident while working."

[MuffyBee]

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/blog/2013/04/pre-trial-begins-for-costa-concordia.html
Pre-trial begins for Costa Concordia officers
April 15, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Italian prosecutors argued in a preliminary hearing on Monday that Schettino should be tried for manslaughter for causing the shipwreck, which could carry a sentence of 20 years in prison.
Schettino allegedly steered the ship too close to the Italian island of Giglio to perform a "ship salute" for the benefit of the passengers and the islanders, causing the ship to run aground and partially sink. The captain allegedly abandoned the ship before all of the 4,000 passengers were able to escape the cruise vessel.
Schettino's lawyer said the captain did not cause the crash or abandon ship, the Chicago Tribune reported. The lawyer, Francesco Pepe, told reporters during a break in the hearing that the incident was an accident at work and that "you cannot criminalize a man because he had an accident while working."
The prosecutors also named five other people who they think should face a criminal trial. Those men include helmsman Jacob Rusli, bridge officers Ciro Ambrosio and Silvia Coronica, cabin services manager Manrico Giampedroni and fleet crisis coordinator, Roberto Ferrarini, the Tribune reported.
Last week Concordia owner Costa Cruises, a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp., accepted a $1.31 million fine as part of a settlement with the Italian government that would dismiss possible criminal charges for the company for its role in the shipwreck.
The Costa Concordia is in the process of being lifted so that it could be towed to an Italian shipyard to be salvaged. Pompano Beach-based Titan Salvage and its Italian partner Micoperi won the contract to upright the ship.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10003575/Giant-boxes-attached-to-Costa-Concordia-to-help-refloat-it.html
Giant boxes attached to Costa Concordia to help refloat it
April 18, 2013

The first of 30 giant hollow boxes has been attached to the side of the stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship, as efforts intensify to refloat the vessel more than a year after it capsized with the loss of 32 lives.
The 395-ton compartment, known as a sponson, was welded to the hull of the 950-ft long cruise liner, which rammed into rocks off the Italian island of Giglio last January.
It had been towed to the island by a barge from the port of Livorno on the coast of Tuscany.
Fifteen of the huge steel boxes will be attached to each side of the Concordia.
The plan is to haul it upright with the use of jacks and cables and then refloat it with the aid of the compartments, which will be pumped full of air and act like arm bands.
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.marinelink.com/news/concordia-salvage-update353812.aspx
Costa Concordia Salvage Update
Press Release
April 23, 2013

Salvors have successfully positioned the first port-side sponson that will be used in the 'parbuckling' stage of the wreck removal process.
Operations now continue with the installation of the second sponson, and eventually they will be welded on the hull of the wreck.
At the same time,  drillings for next 10 underwater holes will carry on in order to position remaining platforms 2 & 3.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/44173/Concordia-diver-found-dead-in-shower.html
Concordia diver found dead in shower
Not work-related, police say
April 26, 2013

Grosseto, April 26 - A diver working to remove the Costa Concordia cruise liner from a Tuscan reef after last year's disaster that claimed 32 lives has been found dead in his shower. The 54-year-old Filipino last went down three days ago and his death has not been linked to his job, police said.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/348887
Work on refloating Costa Concordia ongoing as giant box attached
April 26, 2013

Italian and American companies, Micoperi and Titan Salvage, continue working on refloating the Costa Concordia. Last week the first of 15 giant 'boxes' was attached to a side of the liner. Twenty-nine more are still to be attached.
There will be 15 of these hollow boxes on either side of the Costa Concordia. Once all 30 are in place a series of cables and pulleys will lift the boat upwards and set it in a floating position, with the hollow boxes enabling that to occur.
 ::snipping2::
Once refloated the ship will be towed to the nearby port of Piombino for scrapping.

[MuffyBee]

Translated from Italian to English using Google:

http://www.lanazione.it/grosseto/cronaca/2013/05/03/882493-le-dichiarazioni-di-legambiente-sullo-smaltimento.shtml
Two ancient shipwrecks buried from the Costa Concordia. "Lost a historical and artistic heritage"
May 2, 2013

[MuffyBee]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/world/europe/costa-concordia-captain-to-be-tried-for-manslaughter.html?_r=0
Cruise Ship Captain to Be Tried for Manslaughter
May 22, 2013

ROME — An Italian judge on Wednesday ordered the captain of the cruise ship Costa Concordia to stand trial on manslaughter and other charges related to the deadly capsizing of the vessel off the coast of Tuscany in January 2012.
The judge set a July 9 trial date for the captain, Francesco Schettino, 52. He is accused of causing the ship to run aground, resulting in the deaths of 32 people, and then abandoning the vessel while many of its 4,229 passengers and crew members were still aboard.
“Schettino’s indictment certainly did not come unexpected,” said Francesco Pepe, one of the captain’s lawyers, who attended a pretrial hearing on Wednesday in Grosseto, a Tuscan city close to where the ship capsized. Mr. Pepe described the captain’s mood as very “attentive and focused on the case,” but also calm. “It’s like a driver whose bus goes offroad,” he said. “He had an accident and did all he could to reduce its consequences.”

Five other defendants — an official of the cruise ship company, Costa Cruises, and four crew members — sought plea bargains, and their cases will be judged separately. Plaintiffs in the case lamented the fact that Captain Schettino would be the only defendant brought to trial. “Nobody expected Schettino not to stand trial,” said Cesare Bulgheroni, one of the lawyers for a group called Justice for the Concordia that represents more than 100 survivors. “But he is not the only one to be held responsible. Had the company not responded so slowly to the accident and allowed the ship to navigate so close to shore, the shipwreck would have had lesser consequences.”
More...

[sharon]

http://skift.com/2013/05/15/prosecutors-reject-costa-concordia-captains-plea-bargain-on-manslaughter-charge/

Court rejects Costa Concordia captain’s manslaughter plea bargain


by Silvia Ognibene and Antonio Denti, Reuters
May 15, 2013 1:08 am

Prosecutors rejected a plea bargain offer by the captain of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which capsized off Italy’s west coast last year with the loss of 32 lives, lawyers said on Tuesday.

Captain Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. He has admitted making mistakes but says he should not be the only one blamed for the disaster.

State prosecutors accepted plea bargains for five other officials, including four ship’s officers and the crisis coordinator of the vessel’s owners, Costa Cruises.

The prosecutors said they had rejected Schettino’s offer to serve three years and four months in prison as he bore most responsibility for the disaster. The other officers had played a “marginal” role, they said.

 

[sharon]

http://cnd-cruiseblogger.blogspot.com/2013/05/costa-concordia-like-you-havent-seen-it.html?spref=fb

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Costa Concordia Like You Haven't Seen It
This video was shot by a company called Team BlackSheep. They sell high-end drones for hobbyists (but much, much lower end than military versions). These are small four-propeller remote-controlled helicopters with cameras called Quadrocopters, costing about $1,600.

To promote their business they shoot videos with spectacular views of the world’s great cities or famous landmarks from the unusual close-up perspective of the drones.

Their latest sends a drone over and around (but not into) the wreck of Costa Concordia. It also meanders around some of the equipment readying the wreck for salvage. The video is definitely worth a look because it yields some spectacular sunset views of the ship and Giglio Island.

 

[MuffyBee]

http://skift.com/2013/05/15/prosecutors-reject-costa-concordia-captains-plea-bargain-on-manslaughter-charge/

Court rejects Costa Concordia captain’s manslaughter plea bargain


by Silvia Ognibene and Antonio Denti, Reuters
May 15, 2013 1:08 am

Prosecutors rejected a plea bargain offer by the captain of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which capsized off Italy’s west coast last year with the loss of 32 lives, lawyers said on Tuesday.

Captain Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. He has admitted making mistakes but says he should not be the only one blamed for the disaster.

State prosecutors accepted plea bargains for five other officials, including four ship’s officers and the crisis coordinator of the vessel’s owners, Costa Cruises.

The prosecutors said they had rejected Schettino’s offer to serve three years and four months in prison as he bore most responsibility for the disaster. The other officers had played a “marginal” role, they said.

 

Sadly, sometimes it takes a disaster and loss of life for change to happen.   For the loss of 32 lives not to have been in vain, there must be change and  some has already taken place, with more on the way.  Cruising is a very big industry and it has allowed so many folks a way to see the world.  I hope this hasn't stopped any folks from cruising, but I do hope it has created an awareness for personal safety.  Not only do the cruise lines have responsibility, but each person as a passenger does also.  That means doing the drills and not wandering off instead to have a beverage with a little umbrella.  Take the time and look at what you need to do to be safe.  And then have that beverage    I'm one of those people that actually listens to the airline staff and counts seats to the nearest exit.  And then I have a beverage. 

I don't know much about ships and maritime law, but it seems to me the Captain of the ship has a responsibility to his passengers and crew even if he's not at the helm.  He's the captain.  Period.  Head dude.  The one in control, the one that calls the shots.  It's sad that he not only failed in his duties as a captain, but as a fellow human being.  Instead of taking responsibility and helping passengers and crew, it was the dancers, the waiters, the musicians and some of his fellow officers and passengers that heeded the call for help.  That's just my opinion, and I formed it from what I've been able to read in articles.  He abandoned  ship amidst the disaster, and didn't go back to help even when asked and directed to do so.  He should never, ever be in a position of authority again.  JMHO  Captain Schettino didn't man up the night of the disaster, so I don't expect him to do it now.  What the heck was he doing just before the Concordia went aground?  What did he do afterwards?  Why did he wait so long to report the problems?  Why did he wait so long to notify the guests and crew and prepare them?  And why did he get off the ship and fail to return?  I don't believe Captain Schettino represents the majority of the cruise captains out there.  He makes the entire industry look bad.  There were 32 souls lost that night, injuries, loss of jobs and so on.  How does he sleep at night?  He admits he made some mistakes.   What an ego. Epic fail.  Take your lumps, Captain Schettino.    All just my humble opinion.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.marinelink.com/news/concordia-published354931.aspx
'Costa Concordia' Accident Report Published
May 26, 2013

The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport (MIT) releases its investigation report on the January 13, 2012 stranding of the cruise liner.
The report is the result of a thoroughly comprehensive investigation of all aspects of the accident and is available for download here. It does not seek to attribute blame for an accident that was clearly the result of human error. Many recommendations are made by the investigators, and those that appear particularly relevant and concrete are extracted below.
The immediate flooding of five watertight compartments, where most of the vital equipment the ship was located, some distance from where she ended up, marks the Costa Concordia casualty unusual in the extreme.
More...

Investigation Report:
http://www.safety4sea.com/images/media/pdf/Costa_Concordia_-_Full_Investigation_Report.pdf

[MuffyBee]

http://marinelog.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4099:italy-releases-costa-concordia-casualty-investigation-report&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=195
Italy releases Costa Concordia casualty investigation report
May 27, 2013

MAY 27, 2013 — Italy's Ministry Of Infrastructures and Transports has released its report on the safety technical investigation of the Costa Concordia disaster in January 2012.

It concludes that "the human element is the root cause in the Costa Concordia casualty," both in the first phase, "the unconventional action which caused the contact with the rocks," and then the general emergency management thereafter.
It should be also noted that the Costa Concordia is, first of all, a tragedy, and that the 32 dead people and the 157 injured, depended only by the above mentioned human element, which shows poor proficiency by key crewmembers.
According with the evidences found at the end of the present investigation, it is necessary to put in evidence that Costa Concordia resulted in full compliance with all the SOLAS applicable regulations, matching therefore all the related requirements once she left the Civitavecchia Port on the evening of the 13 January 2013.

Here's an extract from the English version of the report:

"It is worth to highlight also the following problems in terms of organization: - in the meantime, although the ship was proceeding quickly toward the shore , taking command well in advance, still in time to correct the dangerous route, represents for the Master an aggravating in his nautical behaviour; - the difficulties of the Master in reading the radar screen (according to 1st Deck Officer, was without glasses for near vision); - the use of cartography totally inadequate - an inappropriate application of systems navigation (Ecdis and Radar in appropriate scale of approaching); - however, the distraction of the Master by the conduct due both to the people in the hotel business department that were already on the bridge when he arrived, and to the call engaged by one of them with a colleague on the ground; - the orders of the Master to the helmsman given by assigning the bow to follow, rather than ordering the rudder angle."

The report makes wide-ranging recommendations that address not only human element issues but also questions relating to cruise ship design and construction..
More...

[MuffyBee]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2332194/Captain-Coward-fled-sinking-cruise-liner-Costa-Concordia-leaving-300-passengers-crew-fate.html
Captain Coward fled from sinking cruise liner Costa Concordia leaving 300 passengers and crew to their fate
May 28, 2013

[MuffyBee]

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/05/a-quadcopters-eye-view-of-the-costa-concordia-shipwreck/
A Quadcopter’s-Eye View Of The Costa Concordia Shipwreck
May 27, 2013

Video

[MuffyBee]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10101235/Dancer-at-centre-of-Costa-Concordia-crash-to-sue-Captain-Schettino.html
Dancer at centre of Costa Concordia crash to sue Captain Schettino
The Moldovan dancer seen dining with Captain Francesco Schettino the night the Costa Concordia ran aground is to seek damages from the captain and the ship’s parent company.
June 5, 2013



Domnica Cemortan

 
Domnica Cemortan, a 26-year-old cruise ship passenger hostess and former dancer, was reportedly on the bridge with Schettino when the ship struck rocks off the island on January 13 last year.
Immediately after the accident she reportedly told investigators that she was “in love” with Schettino.
Cemortan’s Italian lawyer Gianluca Madonna on Wednesday told The Telegraph his client rejected any suggestion of a relationship between the couple and that she was seeking damages against the captain and the company which had failed to defend her publicly or keep its promise to rehire her.
She is also considering separate action against several Italian newspapers, magazines and TV channels who allegedly slandered her reputation for suggesting she had been involved with the captain.
“She is a hard worker and is a beautiful dancer, very professional,” Mr Madonna said. “The media has presented her as a prostitute.” He said his client was angry at the way she had been abandoned by the company and would be seeking damages “between 200,000 and 300,000 euros” (£255,000) in compensation — well above the 11,000 euros being offered by the company to survivors.
“The action against Costa Cruises is for all the problems they created,” Mr Madonna said. “She paid for a ticket on the ship and received a key to the room an hour and a half later. Her room was on the same private floor as Schettino’s room.”
He said neither Schettino nor the company had said anything to defend her.
“On the night of the accident she risked her life helping Russian passengers because there was no one on board who spoke Russian. Since the accident she has not worked regularly and Costa did not renew her contract.”

 

[MuffyBee]

Good news!   

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/352805
Water quality around Costa Concordia wreck unaffected by ship
June 21, 2013

Tests released to the public on the island of Giglio in the Tuscan Bay reveal that water quality around the partially-submerged Costa Concordia is good. The tests reveal that the water by the ship is of the same quality as elsewhere in the area.
Costa Cruises, owner/operator of the Costa Concordia, is paying for the testing and they are being conducted by researchers from the University of Florence, the University of Pisa and the University of Rome, and others. Tests were conducted on not just water but also on colonies of mussels, sea urchins and fish in the area.