Ten years on, Costa Concordia shipwreck still haunts survivors, islanders

The cruise liner Costa Concordia is seen during the "parbuckling" operation outside Giglio harbour

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'We all suffer from PTSD': 10 years after the Costa Concordia cruise disaster, memories remain

GIGLIO, Italy — Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. But for the passengers on board and the residents who welcomed them ashore, the memories of that harrowing, freezing night remain vividly etched into their minds.

The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship's engine room flooded and its generators failed. The final mad scramble to evacuate the listing liner and then the extraordinary generosity of Giglio islanders who offered shoes, sweatshirts and shelter until the sun rose and passengers were ferried to the mainland.

Italy on Thursday is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration that will end with a candlelit vigil near the moment the ship hit the reef: 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2012. The events will honor the 32 people who died that night, the 4,200 survivors, but also the residents of Giglio, who took in passengers and crew and then lived with the Concordia's wrecked carcass off their shore for another two years until it was righted and hauled away for scrap.

► CDC travel guidance: CDC warns 'avoid cruise travel' after more than 5,000 COVID cases in two weeks amid omicron

“For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water.

“I imagine it like a nail stuck to the wall that marks that date, as a before and after,” he said, recounting how he joined the rescue effort that night, helping pull ashore the dazed, injured and freezing passengers from lifeboats.

The sad anniversary comes as the cruise industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is once again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month  warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection.

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'We all suffer from PTSD'

For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry. Passengers aboard the Concordia were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat after the captain steered the ship close too shore in a stunt. He then delayed an evacuation order until it was too late, with lifeboats unable to lower because the ship was listing too heavily.

“I always said this will not define me, but you have no choice," Ananias said in an interview from her home in Los Angeles, Calif. “We all suffer from PTSD. We had a lot of guilt that we survived and 32 other people died.”

Prosecutors blamed the delayed evacuation order and conflicting instructions given by crew for the chaos that ensued as passengers scrambled to get off the ship. The captain, Francesco Schettino, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all the passengers and crew had evacuated.

Ananias and her family declined Costa’s initial $14,500 compensation offered to each passenger and sued Costa, a unit of U.S.-based Carnival Corp., to try to cover the cost of their medical bills and therapy for the post-traumatic stress they have suffered. But after eight years in the U.S. and then Italian court system, they lost their case.

“I think people need to be aware that when you go on a cruise, that if there is a problem, you will not have the justice that you may be used to in the country in which you are living,” said Ananias, who went onto become a top official in the International Cruise Victims association, an advocacy group that lobbies to improve safety aboard ships and increase transparency and accountability in the industry.

Costa didn’t respond to emails seeking comment on the anniversary.

► Royal Caribbean cancels sailings: Pushes back restart on several ships over COVID

'We did something incredible'

Cruise Lines International Association, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, stressed in a statement to The Associated Press that passenger and crew safety was the industry's top priority, and that cruising remains one of the safest vacation experiences available.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the victims of the Concordia tragedy and their families on this sad anniversary," CLIA said. It said it has worked over the past 10 years with the International Maritime Organization and the maritime industry to “drive a safety culture that is based on continuous improvement."

For Giglio Mayor Sergio Ortelli, the memories of that night run the gamut: the horror of seeing the capsized ship, the scramble to coordinate rescue services on shore, the recovery of the first bodies and then the pride that islanders rose to the occasion to tend to the survivors.

► Cruising during COVID-19: Cancellation, refund policies vary by cruise line

Ortelli was later on hand when, in September 2013, the 115,000-ton, 1,000-foot long cruise ship was righted vertical off its seabed graveyard in an extraordinary feat of engineering. But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory.

“It was a night that, in addition to being a tragedy, had a beautiful side because the response of the people was a spontaneous gesture that was appreciated around the world,” Ortelli said.

It seemed the natural thing to do at the time. “But then we realized that on that night, in just a few hours, we did something incredible.”

Trending Today

The Wrecked Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Is Finally Being Towed Away

The ship’s remains will be broken down for scrap metal

Rachel Nuwer

Rachel Nuwer

costa

The MS Costa Concordia , the Italian cruise ship that killed 32 people when it sank off the coast off Isola del Giglio in 2012, has just been sitting off the Tuscan coast ever since. This morning, though, the ship was successfully refloated, the Guardian reports . Environmentalists are relieved since the ship has been marring a marine sanctuary for more than two years, while local residents say they are looking forward to no longer having to see a giant wreck each time they look out to sea. 

Removing the ship entirely, however, will be no easy task. For starters, it's twice as big as the RMS Titanic , the Guardian  points out. So far, however, the plan seems to be working: 

Air was pumped slowly into 30 tanks or "sponsons" attached to both sides of the 290-metre, 114,500-tonne Concordia to expel the water inside, raising it two metres (6.5 feet) off the artificial platform it has rested on since it was righted in September. It will now be towed away from the shore and moored using anchors and cables. Thirty-six steel cables and 56 chains will hold the sponsons in place.

There are going to be substantial risks before the Costa Concordia is gone for good ,  however. As CNN writes , the ship's rotting hull could break off as it is jostled about, which would cause lengthy delays. Or, it could just fall apart entirely. "The worst case scenario is that the ship falls apart during the first six hours as it's raised off the platform -- or that it breaks up somewhere off the coast of Corsica, which is where the Mediterranean's currents are the strongest," CNN continues. Some environmental groups, like Greenpeace, are also concerned that the Costa Concordia will leave a trail of leaky toxic waste in its wake, CNN adds. 

The Costa Concordia 's planned final destination is Genoa, Italy, where it will be broken down into scrap metal. Experts estimate that that process could take as long as two-and-a-half years, CNN writes. 

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Rachel Nuwer

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Rachel Nuwer is a freelance science writer based in Brooklyn.

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How the Wreck of a Cruise Liner Changed an Italian Island

Ten years ago the Costa Concordia ran aground off the Tuscan island of Giglio, killing 32 people and entwining the lives of others forever.

concordia cruise ship now

By Gaia Pianigiani

GIGLIO PORTO, Italy — The curvy granite rocks of the Tuscan island of Giglio lay bare in the winter sun, no longer hidden by the ominous, stricken cruise liner that ran aground in the turquoise waters of this marine sanctuary ten years ago.

Few of the 500-odd residents of the fishermen’s village will ever forget the freezing night of Jan. 13, 2012, when the Costa Concordia shipwrecked, killing 32 people and upending life on the island for years.

“Every one of us here has a tragic memory from then,” said Mario Pellegrini, 59, who was deputy mayor in 2012 and was the first civilian to climb onto the cruise ship after it struck the rocks near the lighthouses at the port entrance.

The hospitality of the tight-knit community of islanders kicked in, at first to give basic assistance to the 4,229 passengers and crew members who had to be evacuated from a listing vessel as high as a skyscraper. In no time, Giglio residents hosted thousands of journalists, law enforcement officers and rescue experts who descended on the port. In the months to come, salvage teams set up camp in the picturesque harbor to work on safely removing the ship, an operation that took more than two years to complete.

concordia cruise ship now

The people of Giglio felt like a family for those who spent long days at its port, waiting to receive word of their loved ones whose bodies remained trapped on the ship. On Thursday, 10 years to the day of the tragedy, the victims’ families, some passengers and Italian authorities attended a remembrance Mass and threw a crown of flowers onto the waters where the Costa Concordia had rested. At 9:45 p.m., the time when the ship ran aground, a candlelit procession illuminated the port’s quay while church bells rang and ship sirens blared.

What stands out now for many is how the wreck forever changed the lives of some of those whose paths crossed as a result. Friendships were made, business relations took shape and new families were even formed.

“It feels as if, since that tragic night, the lives of all the people involved were forever connected by an invisible thread,” Luana Gervasi, the niece of one of the shipwreck victims, said at the Mass on Thursday, her voice breaking.

Francesco Dietrich, 48, from the eastern city of Ancona, arrived on the island in February 2013 to work with the wreck divers, “a dream job,” he said, adding: “It was like offering someone who plays soccer for the parish team to join the Champions League with all the top teams in the business.”

For his work, Mr. Dietrich had to buy a lot of boat-repair supplies from the only hardware store in town. It was owned by a local family, and Mr. Dietrich now has a 6-year-old son, Pietro, with the family’s daughter.

“It was such a shock for us,” said Bruna Danei, 42, who until 2018 worked as a secretary for the consortium that salvaged the wreck. “The work on the Costa Concordia was a life-changing experience for me in many ways.”

A rendering of the Costa Concordia used by salvage teams to plan its recovery hung on the wall of the living room where her 22-month-old daughter, Arianna, played.

“She wouldn’t be here if Davide hadn’t come to work on the site,” Ms. Danei said, referring to Davide Cedioli, 52, an experienced diver from Turin who came to the island in May 2012 to help right the Costa Concordia — and who is also Arianna’s father.

From a barge, Mr. Cedioli monitored the unprecedented salvage operation that, in less than a day, was able to rotate the 951-foot vessel, partly smashed against the rocks, from the sea bottom to an upright position without further endangering the underwater ecosystem that it damaged when it ran aground.

“We jumped up and down in happiness when the parbuckling was completed,” Mr. Cedioli remembered. “We felt we were bringing some justice to this story. And I loved this small community and living on the island.”

The local council voted to make Jan. 13 a day of remembrance on Giglio, but after this year it will stop the public commemorations and “make it a more intimate moment, without the media,” Mr. Ortelli said during the mass.

“Being here ten years later brings back a lot of emotions,” said Kevin Rebello, 47, whose older brother, Russell, was a waiter on the Costa Concordia.

Russell Rebello’s remains were finally retrieved three years after the shipwreck, from under the furniture in a cabin, once the vessel was upright and being taken apart in Genoa.

“First, I feel close to my brother here,” Kevin Rebello said. “But it is also some sort of family reunion for me — I couldn’t wait to see the Giglio people.”

Mr. Rebello hugged and greeted residents on the streets of the port area, and recalled how the people there had shown affection for him at the time, buying him coffee and simply showing respect for his grief.

“Other victims’ families feel differently, but I am a Catholic and I have forgiven,” Mr. Rebello explained.

The Costa Concordia accident caused national shame when it became clear that the liner’s commander, Francesco Schettino, failed to immediately sound the general alarm and coordinate the evacuation, and instead abandoned the sinking vessel.

“Get back on board!” a Coast Guard officer shouted at Mr. Schettino when he understood that the captain was in a lifeboat watching people scramble to escape, audio recordings of their exchange later revealed. “Go up on the bow of the ship on a rope ladder, and tell me what you can do, how many people are there and what they need. Now!”

The officer has since pursued a successful career in politics, while Mr. Schettino is serving a 16-year sentence in a Roman prison for homicide and for abandoning the ship before the evacuation was completed. Other officials and crew members plea-bargained for lesser sentences.

During the trial, Mr. Schettino admitted that he had committed an “imprudence” when he decided to sail near the island of Giglio at high speed to greet the family of the ship’s headwaiter. The impact with the half-submerged rock near the island produced a gash in the hull more than 70 meters long, or about 76 yards, leading to blackouts on board and water pouring into the lower decks.

Mr. Schettino tried to steer the cruise ship toward the port to make evacuation easier, but the vessel was out of control and began to tip as it neared the harbor, making many lifeboats useless.

“I can’t forget the eyes of children, scared to death, and of their parents,” said Mr. Pellegrini, who had boarded the ship to speak with officials and organize the evacuation. “The metallic sound of the enormous ship tipping over and the gurgling of the sea up the endless corridors of the cruiser.”

Sergio Ortelli, who is still the mayor of Giglio ten years later, was similarly moved. “Nobody can go back and cancel those senseless deaths of innocent people, or the grief of their families,” he said. “The tragedy will always stay with us as a community. It was an apocalypse for us.”

Yet Mr. Ortelli said that the accident also told a different story, that of the skilled rescuers who managed to save thousands of lives, and of the engineers who righted the liner, refloated it and took it to the scrapyard.

While the global attention shifted away from Giglio, residents have stayed in touch with the outside world through the people who temporarily lived there.

For months, the Rev. Lorenzo Pasquotti, who was then a pastor in Giglio, kept receiving packages: dry-cleaned slippers, sweaters and tablecloths that were given to the cold, stranded passengers in his church that night, returned via courier.

One summer, Father Pasquotti ate German cookies with a German couple who were passengers on the ship. They still remembered the hot tea and leftovers from Christmas delicacies that they were given that night.

“So many nationalities — the world was at our door all of a sudden,” he said, remembering that night. “And we naturally opened it.”

Gaia Pianigiani is a reporter based in Italy for The New York Times.  More about Gaia Pianigiani

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10 years later, Costa Concordia disaster is still vivid for survivors

The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia lays on its starboard side after it ran aground off the coast of Italy in 2012.

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Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio . But for the passengers on board and the residents who welcomed them ashore, the memories of that harrowing, freezing night remain vividly etched into their minds.

The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship’s engine room flooded and its generators failed. The final mad scramble to evacuate the listing liner and then the extraordinary generosity of Giglio islanders who offered shoes, sweatshirts and shelter until the sun rose and passengers were ferried to the mainland.

Italy on Thursday is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration that will end with a candlelit vigil near the moment the ship hit the reef: 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2012. The events will honor the 32 people who died that night, the 4,200 survivors, but also the residents of Giglio, who took in passengers and crew and then lived with the Concordia’s wrecked carcass off their shore for another two years until it was righted and hauled away for scrap.

“For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water.

“I imagine it like a nail stuck to the wall that marks that date, as a before and after,” he said, recounting how he joined the rescue effort that night, helping pull ashore the dazed, injured and freezing passengers from lifeboats.

The sad anniversary comes as the cruise industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is once again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises , regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection.

A couple stands on a rear balcony of the Ruby Princess cruise ship while docked in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a cruise ship that docked in San Francisco on Thursday after a dozen vaccinated passengers tested positive for coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

A dozen passengers on cruise ship test positive for coronavirus

The passengers, whose infections were found through random testing, were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, according to the Port of San Francisco.

Jan. 7, 2022

For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry. Passengers aboard the Concordia were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat after the captain steered the ship close too shore in a stunt. He then delayed an evacuation order until it was too late, with lifeboats unable to lower because the ship was listing too heavily.

“I always said this will not define me, but you have no choice,” Ananias said in an interview from her home in Los Angeles. “We all suffer from PTSD. We had a lot of guilt that we survived and 32 other people died.”

Prosecutors blamed the delayed evacuation order and conflicting instructions given by crew for the chaos that ensued as passengers scrambled to get off the ship. The captain, Francesco Schettino, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all the passengers and crew had evacuated.

Ananias and her family declined Costa’s initial $14,500 compensation offered to each passenger and sued Costa, a unit of U.S.-based Carnival Corp., to try to cover the cost of their medical bills and therapy for the post-traumatic stress they have suffered. But after eight years in the U.S. and then Italian court system, they lost their case.

“I think people need to be aware that when you go on a cruise, that if there is a problem, you will not have the justice that you may be used to in the country in which you are living,” said Ananias, who went onto become a top official in the International Cruise Victims association, an advocacy group that lobbies to improve safety aboard ships and increase transparency and accountability in the industry.

Costa didn’t respond to emails seeking comment on the anniversary.

Cruise Lines International Assn., the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, stressed in a statement to the Associated Press that passenger and crew safety were the industry’s top priority, and that cruising remains one of the safest vacation experiences available.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the victims of the Concordia tragedy and their families on this sad anniversary,” CLIA said. It said it has worked over the past 10 years with the International Maritime Organization and the maritime industry to “drive a safety culture that is based on continuous improvement.”

For Giglio Mayor Sergio Ortelli, the memories of that night run the gamut: the horror of seeing the capsized ship, the scramble to coordinate rescue services on shore, the recovery of the first bodies and then the pride that islanders rose to the occasion to tend to the survivors.

Ortelli was later on hand when, in September 2013, the 115,000-ton, 1,000-foot long cruise ship was righted vertical off its seabed graveyard in an extraordinary feat of engineering. But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory.

“It was a night that, in addition to being a tragedy, had a beautiful side because the response of the people was a spontaneous gesture that was appreciated around the world,” Ortelli said.

It seemed the natural thing to do at the time. “But then we realized that on that night, in just a few hours, we did something incredible.”

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Capsized Costa Concordia Is Finally Set to Leave Its Watery Grave

Final preparations are under way to refloat and remove the Costa Concordia from the pristine waters off Giglio in what has been the largest and most expensive maritime salvage operation ever attempted. 

By Barbie Latza Nadeau

Editor’s Note: For Scientific American’s complete coverage of the Costa Concordia disaster see links at the end of this story.

After more than two and a half years and $1 billion, the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia is about to set sail again, although it won’t be under its own power. The move could not come too soon, because the risk that it will damage the environment is much higher now than when the ship originally crashed near the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012.

If all goes well, the crippled vessel , which was rotated to an upright position (parbuckled) in September, will be lifted to the surface in an even riskier operation sometime around the middle of July—likely the 14th because the salvors working on the operation are superstitious enough to avoid having the refloat in progress on the 13th.

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So far, the biggest problem the uplift team has faced was detachment of a flotation caisson in April. These caissons are large metal boxes into which compressed air will be pumped to float the ship. Salvage crews repaired and remounted the escaped caisson and are now finishing installation of the remaining ones. The Concordia will have 30 caissons in all to carry out the refloat. Once the ship has been lifted, two of the caissons will have to be refitted to help keep the craft ship afloat while it is being towed 240 kilometers to Genoa, where it will be dismantled.

Lifting the ship more than 12 meters off the giant underwater platforms that have been supporting it since September will take three or four days, but raising it the first two meters will be the most dangerous part of the exercise. That’s when the hull could crack and spill out a toxic stew of chemicals, rotten food and debris trapped since the shipwreck that has been swilling around inside the sunken ship for more than two years. If the hull breaks apart, the ship would likely never be removable from Giglio in one piece and would have to be dismantled in situ.

Once the ship is floated two meters off the platforms, salvors will carry out crucial checks to make sure the ship has no hidden fissures or further structural damage. Then they will move it eastward some 30 meters to begin the full refloat. Franco Porcellacchia, project manager for Costa Cruises, told Scientific American that the ship will be then be lifted above the surface deck by deck, with salvage crews stopping after each new deck emerges to look for environmentally harmful substances as well as clean the debris so that it does not leak into the sea. Italy’s environmental ministry is “greatly concerned” that the wrecked ship will spew flotsam and contaminants all the way to Genoa. But the engineers working on the project and Costa Cruises (which is owned by American Carnival Cruises) have assured them that the pollution produced en route to Genoa will be “temporary and of little significance.”

The superficial debris that salvagers will remove before the vessel sets sail includes mattresses, suitcases and personal effects belonging to guests as well as fully stocked freezers (that could pop when the water pressure is eased) and entire restaurants with plates, utensils, tables and chairs. And even if the hull remains intact, bunker fuel left in the tanks and engines, along with other harmful chemicals such as cleaning supplies could also befoul the water if not removed promptly.

The risks posed by raising the ship are real but leaving the Costa Concordia in place is not an option because as the ship decays and saltwater and waves crash against it, the likelihood of pollution fouling the waters off Giglio rises. Salvors have told Scientific American that they cannot guarantee the ship would survive another winter intact. “It’s far more dangerous to the environment to leave it where it is than to tow it away,” said Franco Gabrielli, Italy’s Civil Protection chief, when he met with Giglio residents this week to explain the process. “It must go as soon as possible.”

Barbie Latza Nadeau is an American journalist who has worked from Rome since 1996. She is author of the upcoming book, Roadmap to Hell: Sex, Drugs and Guns on the Mafia Coast , about sex trafficking and organized crime in Italy.

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The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse

By: Becky Little

Updated: August 10, 2023 | Original: June 23, 2021

Night view on January 16, 2012, of the cruise liner Costa Concordia aground in front of the harbor of Isola del Giglio after hitting underwater rocks on January 13.

Many famous naval disasters happen far out at sea, but on January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia wrecked just off the coast of an Italian island in relatively shallow water. The avoidable disaster killed 32 people and seriously injured many others, and left investigators wondering: Why was the luxury cruise ship sailing so close to the shore in the first place?

During the ensuing trial, prosecutors came up with a tabloid-ready explanation : The married ship captain had sailed it so close to the island to impress a much younger Moldovan dancer with whom he was having an affair.

Whether or not Captain Francesco Schettino was trying to impress his girlfriend is debatable. (Schettino insisted the ship sailed close to shore to salute other mariners and give passengers a good view.) But whatever the reason for getting too close, the Italian courts found the captain, four crew members and one official from the ship’s company, Costa Crociere (part of Carnival Corporation), to be at fault for causing the disaster and preventing a safe evacuation. The wreck was not the fault of unexpected weather or ship malfunction—it was a disaster caused entirely by a series of human errors.

“At any time when you have an incident similar to Concordia, there is never…a single causal factor,” says Brad Schoenwald, a senior marine inspector at the United States Coast Guard. “It is generally a sequence of events, things that line up in a bad way that ultimately create that incident.”

Wrecking Near the Shore

Technicians pass in a small boat near the stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia lying aground in front of the Isola del Giglio on January 26, 2012 after hitting underwater rocks on January 13.

The Concordia was supposed to take passengers on a seven-day Italian cruise from Civitavecchia to Savona. But when it deviated from its planned path to sail closer to the island of Giglio, the ship struck a reef known as the Scole Rocks. The impact damaged the ship, allowing water to seep in and putting the 4,229 people on board in danger.

Sailing close to shore to give passengers a nice view or salute other sailors is known as a “sail-by,” and it’s unclear how often cruise ships perform these maneuvers. Some consider them to be dangerous deviations from planned routes. In its investigative report on the 2012 disaster, Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructures and Transports found that the Concordia “was sailing too close to the coastline, in a poorly lit shore area…at an unsafe distance at night time and at high speed (15.5 kts).”

In his trial, Captain Schettino blamed the shipwreck on Helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin, who he claimed reacted incorrectly to his order; and argued that if the helmsman had reacted correctly and quickly, the ship wouldn’t have wrecked. However, an Italian naval admiral testified in court that even though the helmsman was late in executing the captain’s orders, “the crash would’ve happened anyway.” (The helmsman was one of the four crew members convicted in court for contributing to the disaster.)

A Questionable Evacuation

Former Captain of the Costa Concordia Francesco Schettino speaks with reporters after being aboard the ship with the team of experts inspecting the wreck on February 27, 2014 in Isola del Giglio, Italy. The Italian captain went back onboard the wreck for the first time since the sinking of the cruise ship on January 13, 2012, as part of his trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship.

Evidence introduced in Schettino’s trial suggests that the safety of his passengers and crew wasn’t his number one priority as he assessed the damage to the Concordia. The impact and water leakage caused an electrical blackout on the ship, and a recorded phone call with Costa Crociere’s crisis coordinator, Roberto Ferrarini, shows he tried to downplay and cover up his actions by saying the blackout was what actually caused the accident.

“I have made a mess and practically the whole ship is flooding,” Schettino told Ferrarini while the ship was sinking. “What should I say to the media?… To the port authorities I have said that we had…a blackout.” (Ferrarini was later convicted for contributing to the disaster by delaying rescue operations.)

Schettino also didn’t immediately alert the Italian Search and Rescue Authority about the accident. The impact on the Scole Rocks occurred at about 9:45 p.m. local time, and the first person to contact rescue officials about the ship was someone on the shore, according to the investigative report. Search and Rescue contacted the ship a few minutes after 10:00 p.m., but Schettino didn’t tell them what had happened for about 20 more minutes.

A little more than an hour after impact, the crew began to evacuate the ship. But the report noted that some passengers testified that they didn’t hear the alarm to proceed to the lifeboats. Evacuation was made even more chaotic by the ship listing so far to starboard, making walking inside very difficult and lowering the lifeboats on one side, near to impossible. Making things worse, the crew had dropped the anchor incorrectly, causing the ship to flop over even more dramatically.

Through the confusion, the captain somehow made it into a lifeboat before everyone else had made it off. A coast guard member angrily told him on the phone to “Get back on board, damn it!” —a recorded sound bite that turned into a T-shirt slogan in Italy.

Schettino argued that he fell into a lifeboat because of how the ship was listing to one side, but this argument proved unconvincing. In 2015, a court found Schettino guilty of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship before passengers and crew were evacuated and lying to authorities about the disaster. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. In addition to Schettino, Ferrarini and Rusli Bin, the other people who received convictions for their role in the disaster were Cabin Service Director Manrico Giampedroni, First Officer Ciro Ambrosio and Third Officer Silvia Coronica.

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10 years later, Costa Concordia disaster vivid for survivors

FILE — The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia lays on its starboard side after it ran aground off the coast of the Isola del Giglio island, Italy on Jan. 13, 2012. Italy is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Giuseppe Modesti)

FILE — The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia lays on its starboard side after it ran aground off the coast of the Isola del Giglio island, Italy on Jan. 13, 2012. Italy is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Giuseppe Modesti)

FILE— The grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia is seen through a window on the Isola del Giglio island, Italy, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

FILE— Oil removal ships near the cruise ship Costa Concordia leaning on its side Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, after running aground near the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, last Friday night. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE— The Costa Concordia ship lies on its side on the Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy, Monday, Sept. 16, 2013. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

FILE— A sunbather gets her tan on a rock during the operations to refloat the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia on the tiny Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy, Saturday, July 19, 2014. Once the ship has refloated it will be towed to Genoa’s port, about 200 nautical miles (320 kilometers), where it will be dismantled. 30 months ago it struck a reef and capsized, killing 32 people. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE— The wrecked hulk of the Costa Concordia cruise ship is towed along the Tyrrhenian Sea, 30 miles off the coast of Viareggio, Italy, Friday, July 25, 2014. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Fabio Muzzi)

FILE— A view of the previously submerged side of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, off the coast of the Tuscan Island of Giglio, Italy, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE— A passenger from South Korea, center, walks with Italian Firefighters, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, after being rescued from the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia which ran aground on the tiny Italian island of Isola del Giglio. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

FILE— A woman hangs her laundry as the grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia is seen in the background, off the Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap.(AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

FILE— In this photo taken on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, Francesco Schettino, right, the captain of the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground off the tiny Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, is taken into custody by Carabinieri in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Giacomo Aprili)

Experts aboard a sea platform carry oil recovery equipment, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, as they return to the port of the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, where the cruise ship Costa Concordia, visible in background, ran aground on Ja. 13, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

FILE— Seagulls fly in front of the grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy, Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

FILE— Italian firefighters conduct search operations on the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia that ran aground the tiny Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers and crew from the ship on that rainy Friday night and then lived with the Concordia carcass for another two years before it was hauled away for scrap. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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GIGLIO, Italy (AP) — Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. But for the passengers on board and the residents who welcomed them ashore, the memories of that harrowing, freezing night remain vividly etched into their minds.

The dinner plates that flew off the tables when the rocks first gashed the hull. The blackout after the ship’s engine room flooded and its generators failed. The final mad scramble to evacuate the listing liner and then the extraordinary generosity of Giglio islanders who offered shoes, sweatshirts and shelter until the sun rose and passengers were ferried to the mainland.

Italy on Thursday is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration that will end with a candlelit vigil near the moment the ship hit the reef: 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2012. The events will honor the 32 people who died that night, the 4,200 survivors, but also the residents of Giglio, who took in passengers and crew and then lived with the Concordia’s wrecked carcass off their shore for another two years until it was righted and hauled away for scrap.

“For us islanders, when we remember some event, we always refer to whether it was before or after the Concordia,” said Matteo Coppa, who was 23 and fishing on the jetty when the darkened Concordia listed toward shore and then collapsed onto its side in the water.

“I imagine it like a nail stuck to the wall that marks that date, as a before and after,” he said, recounting how he joined the rescue effort that night, helping pull ashore the dazed, injured and freezing passengers from lifeboats.

The sad anniversary comes as the cruise industry, shut down in much of the world for months because of the coronavirus pandemic, is once again in the spotlight because of COVID-19 outbreaks that threaten passenger safety. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises , regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection.

For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry. Passengers aboard the Concordia were largely left on their own to find life jackets and a functioning lifeboat after the captain steered the ship close too shore in a stunt. He then delayed an evacuation order until it was too late, with lifeboats unable to lower because the ship was listing too heavily.

“I always said this will not define me, but you have no choice,” Ananias said in an interview from her home in Los Angeles, Calif. “We all suffer from PTSD. We had a lot of guilt that we survived and 32 other people died.”

Prosecutors blamed the delayed evacuation order and conflicting instructions given by crew for the chaos that ensued as passengers scrambled to get off the ship. The captain, Francesco Schettino, is serving a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all the passengers and crew had evacuated.

Ananias and her family declined Costa’s initial $14,500 compensation offered to each passenger and sued Costa, a unit of U.S.-based Carnival Corp., to try to cover the cost of their medical bills and therapy for the post-traumatic stress they have suffered. But after eight years in the U.S. and then Italian court system, they lost their case.

“I think people need to be aware that when you go on a cruise, that if there is a problem, you will not have the justice that you may be used to in the country in which you are living,” said Ananias, who went onto become a top official in the International Cruise Victims association, an advocacy group that lobbies to improve safety aboard ships and increase transparency and accountability in the industry.

Costa didn’t respond to emails seeking comment on the anniversary.

Cruise Lines International Association, the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, stressed in a statement to The Associated Press that passenger and crew safety was the industry’s top priority, and that cruising remains one of the safest vacation experiences available.

“Our thoughts continue to be with the victims of the Concordia tragedy and their families on this sad anniversary,” CLIA said. It said it has worked over the past 10 years with the International Maritime Organization and the maritime industry to “drive a safety culture that is based on continuous improvement.”

For Giglio Mayor Sergio Ortelli, the memories of that night run the gamut: the horror of seeing the capsized ship, the scramble to coordinate rescue services on shore, the recovery of the first bodies and then the pride that islanders rose to the occasion to tend to the survivors.

Ortelli was later on hand when, in September 2013, the 115,000-ton, 300-meter (1,000-foot) long cruise ship was righted vertical off its seabed graveyard in an extraordinary feat of engineering. But the night of the disaster, a Friday the 13th, remains seared in his memory.

“It was a night that, in addition to being a tragedy, had a beautiful side because the response of the people was a spontaneous gesture that was appreciated around the world,” Ortelli said.

It seemed the natural thing to do at the time. “But then we realized that on that night, in just a few hours, we did something incredible.”

Winfield reported from Rome.

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A Current Look At and Inside the Dismantled Costa Concordia

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The effort to dismantle the ill-fated Costa Concordia continues in Genoa, Italy with approximately 200 technicians now working to cut up and remove all fittings and structures from the vessel.

According to the latest update from the Ship Recycling consortium released Wednesday, the lightening of the cruise ship has allowed the removal of the first  giant steel sponsons that have provided buoyancy for the wreck since it was refloated in July 2014.  The update said that what started from the top decks down, cutting operations are now taking place on decks 8 to 7 while stripping is down to decks 2 and 1. 

Once that work completed, crews will begin to remove all external structures from the ship, including all 30 sponsons, and seal the hull so that what’s left of the vessel can be transferred to dry dock for demolition. 

Check out the photos of the ongoing operations below:

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Photos above courtesy the Ship Recycling Consortium

Photo below posted by someone on our social media shows the Costa Concordia as of November 10th. You can see how much progress they are making on the upper decks:

Photo courtesy Stephen Brett

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Inside the Rotting Wreck of the Costa Concordia

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The 2012 Costa Concordia shipwreck is the most famous maritime disaster of the 21st century. In January of that year, the cruise ship struck a rock off the Mediterranean island of Isola del Giglio and began listing dangerously to starboard, eventually settling at a near 90-degree tilt in shallow water. Despite the calm seas and the proximity to land, 32 people were killed.

Now, the wrecked remains of the gigantic ocean liner are being scrapped in the port of Genoa, Italy. Its 50,000 tons of steel are being melted down and will be used in future construction and ship building projects.

Last August, German photographer Jonathan Danko Kielkowski, swam out to the ship, climbed aboard and spent several hours exploring its passageways and chambers. These photos are the result, and he’s turned them into an art book . You can also see them in person at the upcoming Los Angeles Art Book Fair , which runs from February 12 to February 14.

Photo: What was once a bar is now a fetid morass of collapsed ceiling and sea-bottom gunk.

A former theater lies destroyed and rotting.

A former theater lies destroyed and rotting.

A dining room that used to feature a fabulous chandelier now lies in muddy disarray.

A dining room that used to feature a fabulous chandelier now lies in muddy disarray.

A former state room, one of the most expensive on the ship, looks unfit for human habitation.

A former state room, one of the most expensive on the ship, looks unfit for human habitation.

The wreck of the Costa Concordia is now moored in a floating dock; the entire right side of the ship is ripped open.

The wreck of the Costa Concordia is now moored in a floating dock; the entire right side of the ship is ripped open.

“The cruise ship industry wants to paint this very sanitized image of what happens aboard its ships” says Jonathan, “But, the reality isn’t always fun in the sun. People get sick, fall overboard, and die in these accidents.”

“The cruise ship industry wants to paint this very sanitized image of what happens aboard its ships” says Jonathan, “But, the reality isn’t always fun in the sun. People get sick, fall overboard, and die in these accidents.”

The thing that struck Jonathan most? “The piles of personal belongings left behind by the passengers as they tried to escape.”

The thing that struck Jonathan most? “The piles of personal belongings left behind by the passengers as they tried to escape.”

A view of the bridge, as it now lies moored in Genoa.

A view of the bridge, as it now lies moored in Genoa.

“It smelled like rotting fish, and mold, and I don’t even know the word for it,” Jonathan says. “The workers dismantling the ship work in full hazmat suits with respirators.”

“It smelled like rotting fish, and mold, and I don’t even know the word for it,” Jonathan says. “The workers dismantling the ship work in full hazmat suits with respirators.”

A view of the Costa Concordia from dockside in Genoa.

A view of the Costa Concordia from dockside in Genoa.

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The night of this tragic event happened in real time for me as the news broke here in the United States. How could something like this happen? It didn’t make any sense. I was working and publishing news items to our forums and the home page of Cruise Addicts . It still is hard to believe that such an event could unfold as it did. Sadly, this incredibly poor narrative is not fiction but a real-life catastrophe constructed by a myriad of poor choices.

The events unfolded on the night of January 2012, leaving an indelible mark on history as the cruise ship Costa Concordia sank in Italy.

Costa Concordia Sinking

This ship sank in 2012, but the echoes of the Costa Concordia tragedy still resonate powerfully. The global attention it seized was not just due to the grandeur it once boasted but also to the gripping fear and loss that ensued—the Costa Concordia sinking bearing witness to a maritime misadventure oscillating between human error and valiant rescue endeavors.

Key Takeaways

  • The Costa Concordia disaster riveted the world when a maritime marvel succumbed to a tragic end.
  • Focusing on first-hand reports, I narrate the hardships faced by over 4,200 individuals aboard as the cruise ship disaster unfolded.
  • I reflect on the legal aftermath and environmental burden that the Italian cruise ship wreck incurred, denoting a cautionary chapter in sea travel .
  • By dissecting the catalysts and consequences, the essence of the costa concordia tragedy is scrutinized through a lens of gravity and compassion.
  • The enduring legacy of the Costa Concordia sinking is an indispensable lesson for maritime safety and emergency management.

The Catastrophic Voyage of Costa Concordia

Costa Concordia

Today, the Costa Concordia cruise ship bears a tale of caution, a lesson submerged in the depths of nautical annals. Before the concordia shipwreck turned the vessel into a byword for disaster, let me guide you through its glory days—the triumph of engineering and luxury it once represented.

Launching of Italy’s Largest Cruise Liner

The Costa Concordia was a testament to the prowess of its owner, Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of the world-renowned Carnival Corporation & PLC. Officially launched in 2005, this floating behemoth overtook the historic Titanic in size, spanning an impressive 951 feet. With an opulent passenger capacity of 3,780, it heralded a new era of maritime luxury.

From Maiden Voyage to a Mediterranean Staple

Her maiden voyage in July 2006 foreshadowed what was meant to be a long-standing Mediterranean staple. The Costa Concordia, a haven of lavishness with sumptuous offerings, including four swimming pools, a casino, and a colossal spa, set the gold standard for luxury cruising . The seven-day Mediterranean sojourns quickly became iconic , treating guests to the enchanting shores of Italy, France, and Spain. This level of grandeur was unparalleled until the night it all ended in calamity.

Stay with me as I continue to reveal the latest updates on the Costa Concordia update and explore how this once majestic vessel, now synonymous with one of the most harrowing concordia shipwreck incidents in recent history, serves as an indelible mark on the chronicles of the Concordia cruise line .

Costa Concordia’s Ill-fated Evening: A Timeline of Events

sinking of the Costa Concordia

The tragic story that unfolded during the sinking of the Costa Concordia has etched itself into maritime history as a series of grave errors and unfortunate events. I remember the images of the luxury liner, a symbol of elegance and joy, which turned into a harrowing spectacle of fear and panic as it capsized off the Italian coast. To understand the gravity of that fateful night’s situation, let’s walk through the timeline that led to the Costa Concordia incident .

It all started as a routine voyage. On January 13, 2012, passengers boarded the Concordia, anticipating the exciting journey ahead. Unbeknownst to them, this trip would end drastically different than they had imagined. The first sign of trouble came when the cruise ship initiated a “salute” maneuver near Giglio Island, deviating from its original course. The salute—a maritime tradition where ships pass close to shore in a display of honor or greeting—proved fateful for the Concordia, as it encountered unforeseen rocks.

The language barrier between the Italian captain and the Indonesian helmsman contributed to a critical steering error. In an attempt to redirect the vessel, things took a turn for the worse. By approximately 9:45 pm, a 174-foot gash was torn into the ship’s port side , causing seawater to rush into several compartments. Among these was the engine room , the beating heart of the ship’s operations. As the engines faltered and power was lost, the cruise ship concordia update turned dire—the vessel started to list severely, escalating to an emergency.

With the sinking Concordia losing its battle against the relentless water, an evacuation was not just necessary but imperative. The crew and passengers faced a night of uncertainty, forced to abandon the comforts of their cabins for lifeboats and, in some instances, into the open sea . As the evacuation unfolded, the stark contrast between the sinking of the Costa Concordia and the luxury it stood for before the accident couldn’t have been more pronounced.

Thanks to the valiant efforts of the crew and rescuers, the evacuation saw many saved, but the ship would rest, tilted and defeated by the rocks that claimed it, by 12:00 am on January 14th. Before the accident, the Costa Concordia represented the pinnacle of cruise luxury. After the tragedy, it became an emblem of the potential peril sea voyages could encounter and a catalyst for change in maritime safety regulations.

In my carnal pursuit of sharing this catastrophe’s account, I am reminded of how closely we skirt the edges between safety and danger and the immeasurable responsibility of those commanding such grand vessels. The sinking of the Costa Concordia , a spectacle of disbelief and sorrow, is a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of security in the face of human error and natural forces.

Diving Into the Depths: The Sinking of Costa Concordia

Exactly What happened to the Costa Concordia? | 27

Following the collision, the vessel was left without power, its rudder lifeless, and its fate sealed as it drifted helplessly back toward Giglio Island. What was initially passed off as a simple electrical issue quickly spiraled into desperate evacuation attempts. By 11:20 pm, the ship’s command had been vacated , with Captain Schettino later alleging an accidental fall into a lifeboat—an incident that has since fueled worldwide critique and disbelief.

The severity of the ship’s tilt demanded adaptability and courage, cornerstones of the human spirit in the face of calamity. Approximately 300 souls remained onboard as the last crew detached, spurring a flurry of survival strategies, including climbing down ladders in a landscape where decks had transformed into walls.

  • Initial internal assessment recognizes critical damage.
  • The grounded rudder and winds maneuver Costa Concordia toward the island
  • An unplanned, perilous starboard keelover begins.
  • Evacuation attempts exacerbated by misinformation and a severe list
  • Capitulation of command by Captain Schettino and subsequent crew departure
  • Rescue efforts transition to atypical escape methodologies

Costa Concordia today update : As we revisit the site of mourning and memory, it is paramount to reflect on the future of oceanic travel and how each vessel that bravely glides across the sea’s skin carries with it the legacy of those 32 lives, a legacy that the industry must honor through uncompromising standards of safety, vigilance, and humanity.

The Aftermath: Rescue Efforts and Survival Stories

Exactly What happened to the Costa Concordia? | 27

Following the unprecedented Italian cruise ship crash , the small community on Giglio Island swiftly became a rescue operation hub. Concordia ship now lay crippled, its metallic carcass a stark contrast to the tranquil waters that it had disturbed. As a journalist, I stand amidst the remnants of what was once a testament to luxury, now a subject to one of Italy’s most impactful maritime rescues.

Heroic Acts Amidst Chaos

The unfolding hours saw a flurry of life-saving efforts as cruise ship Concordia’s latest news reported how crew members and locals exemplified extraordinary courage. Accounts of a musician forfeiting his chance of escape for others and local fishermen navigating treacherous waters to rescue passengers have been etched into the annals of heroic acts the world should never forget.

Survivors’ Harrowing Escape

The echoes of the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster are still heard in the survivors’ stories. Harrowing tales of passengers leaping into the frigid sea or being guided down darkened chord ladders resonate with a chilling reminder of the night’s terror. These vivid recollections paint a portrait of survival against staggering odds, framed by a backdrop of an Italian cruise ship accident that will forever be remembered.

As I stand here today, the once majestic beacon of the cruise industry lies dormant. The Italian cruise ship crash changed the physical landscape and the lives of all involved. Yet, from the depths of despair, the strength of the human spirit has shone brightly, reminding us of the power of unity in the face of disaster.

Navigating Through Tragedy: Captain Francesco Schettino’s Role

Captain Francesco Schettino

Captain Schettino , often referred to as Captain Costa Concordia , has been pivotal in the narrative, facing widespread vilification for decisions that led to the shipwreck. The gravity of the captain’s choices that fateful night is anchored deeply in the consciousness of the maritime industry and those affected by the disaster.

Accused of causing the wreck by maneuvering the colossal vessel too close to Giglio Island for a display of acknowledgment known widely among mariners as a maritime salute, Costa Concordia Schettino was also censured for abandoning the afflicted ship. His actions—or lack thereof—brought about life-altering consequences for many aboard. Delving into the details of Schettino’s conduct before and after the collision reveals multi-faceted insights into the harrowing event.

During his trial, which I followed closely, the Concordia shipwreck captain faced severe backlash for mishandling the situation, culminating in a conviction for manslaughter and causing a maritime disaster. The court of public opinion was no kinder than the Italian legal system; Schettino infamously became emblematic of imprudent leadership at sea. His duties to the passengers and crew bound by trust and safety were, by adjudged accounts, all but neglected.

In the wake of the trial, reflections on Captain Schettino ‘s pivotal role entailed recognizing the stark contrast between his actions and the exemplary behavior expected of individuals in his command. It points to an overarching and pressing need for stringent adherence to the tenets of maritime conduct and the weighty responsibility resting on ship commanders. The ramifications of Captain Schettino’s decisions on that doomed voyage endure, as poignant lessons in accountability ripple through communities and industries worldwide.

Understanding the Magnitude: Costa Concordia Today Update

Exactly What happened to the Costa Concordia? | 27

Reflecting on the Costa Concordia as it stands now, the remnants of the once majestic cruise liner continue to captivate and serve as a poignant emblem of a maritime catastrophe. The Costa Concordia wreck site evokes powerful emotions and is steeped in environmental concerns. After the Concordia ship sank , intensive efforts were necessary to secure the area and prevent further harm to the fragile marine ecosystem.

As an observer and reporter, I’ve seen firsthand how a once vibrant vacation remnant is now a silent watchdog, ensuring the sanctuary’s safety. The sunken cruise ship , a convergence of human tragedy and ecological peril, has become an inadvertent monument to both.

The Environmental Repercussions

The Costa Concordia shipwreck , challenging as it was, brought together numerous stakeholders, from environmentalists to engineers, all dedicated to mitigating its impact. Introducing oil booms and proactive fuel extraction efforts displayed an unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship.

Costa Concordia Wreck Site Now

The Costa Concordia wreck site resonates with a quiet that belies the intense dramas once played out on its decks. What remains is a powerful testament to humanity’s respect for nature in the face of disruptive events. Submerged in the Mediterranean’s depths, the vessel no longer traverses the world’s waters but has embarked on an eternal, anchored existence.

Sunken but Not Forgotten: Commemorating the 32 Lives Lost

Commemorating the 32 Lives Lost

We solemnly remember the concordia deaths that irreversibly marked the Costa Concordia’s profound tragedy. My thoughts persistently drift to the 32 individuals whose lives were unjustly claimed by the cruise wreck, a cruise ship disaster Italy will never forget. The impact of the fatalities, including those termed as Costa Concordia fatalities , resonates beyond mere statistics; it is a narrative of lives cut short and dreams left unfulfilled.

The echoes of the catastrophe stretch into the present, as each anniversary passes with the gravity of loss undiminished. Mindful of the human cost, it’s not just about recounting the Costa Concordia deaths but also about preserving the memory of each person who perished in the dark waters of that fateful night.

Their stories endure not as an impersonal tally but as intimate portraits of lives intertwined with mine. They are reminders that there is a beloved child, a cherished spouse, a valued colleague behind every number—the absence of whom leaves an irreplaceable void. Thus, I commit to ensuring that while the Costa Concordia may have sunk, the souls aboard will never fade into the forgotten depths.

Legal Tides: The Trials and Sentencing Post-Disaster

Exactly What happened to the Costa Concordia? | 27

As the wake of the Costa Concordia tragedy continued to spread, the legal repercussions for those involved were swift and significant, signaling a new chapter of accountability following the maritime disaster. The latest news on Costa Concordia reverberated through the corridors of justice as several crew members faced the consequences of that fateful night.

Crew Members Held Accountable

Addressing the negligence that led to the catastrophic event, the Italian courts held crew members and the crisis coordinator accountable. Four crew members and the ship’s crisis coordinator pled guilty to various offenses in a critical Concordia cruise ship salvage update. Their sentences, marked by the gravity of the incident, were relatively short but underscored collective culpability.

The Fate of Captain Schettino

Regarding the Costa Concordia captain’s latest news, the harrowing saga of Captain Francesco Schettino reached its legal conclusion. Denying a plea bargain, the courts charged Schettino with manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster, and abandoning a ship, among other offenses, yielding a severe sentence that resonated within the maritime community. My following table lays out the critical details of the sentences served in the aftermath of the Italian cruise ship wreck :

Reviving the Reef: Environmental Concerns and Salvage Operations

The wreck of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, enters in the port of Voltri pushed by tug boats.

When the Costa Concordia succumbed to the sea, it represented a Concordia cruise disaster and raised immediate environmental concerns the Costa Concordia area had to contend with. The marine sanctuary, which could have suffered irreversible damage due to the cruise liner sinking in 2012 , desperately needed protective measures. The salvage operations Concordia undertook were a race against time to minimize the ecological footprint of the wreckage.

My involvement in the Costa Concordia scrapping process allowed me to witness first-hand the sophistication and the scale of operations required to counteract the damage. Approximately 500 international salvage experts collaborated on what would become a historic mission, utilizing advanced underwater platforms and cranes to parry further environmental injury.

The 19-hour undertaking to upright the enormous vessel was just the beginning. It was a ballet of engineering prowess and environmental precaution. Salvage crews worked meticulously, mindful of the surrounding marine life. The culmination of this effort was a day I still clearly recall: the day the remains were towed to Genoa in July 2014. It was a bittersweet chapter, where success in our salvage task also marked the end of what was once a grand vessel.

As a journalist covering this unprecedented event, I saw the Costa Concordia transform from a luxury symbol to a stark reminder of nature’s fragility. Below, I’ve detailed some of the techniques used in the salvage operations that highlight both the complexity and the necessity of this environmental feat:

  • Use of sponsons to refloat the Concordia for her final journey to the scrapyard
  • Installation of subsea platforms to ensure stability during the operation
  • Water treatment systems to prevent the spread of contaminants during the scrapping process

It’s easy to remember the salacious details of the disaster – the Concordia cruise disaster , if you will – but as a witness and chronicler of these events, my focus has always returned to the environmental impact. The work done by salvage teams was not just a technical achievement but a concerted effort to preserve a vulnerable ecosystem that had the misfortune of being the stage for this tragedy.

Ripples Across the Sea: Costa Concordia’s Impact on Cruise Safety

Safety Tips for Your First Cruise

The Costa Concordia calamity, one of Italy’s most devastating cruise ship crash events, sparked an urgent overhaul in what we now call cruise safety . I observed this transformation first-hand, noting the industry’s swift move to implement rigorous changes, all with the aim of averting a similar Costa disaster from happening again. These reforms ranged from revisiting antiquated practices to introducing cutting-edge innovations that elevated the safety standards on cruise ships. Consequently, the tragic Italian cruise accident became a pivotal point in maritime history, revolutionizing how safety was prioritized aboard these seafaring giants.

To understand the tangible changes post-Costa disaster, I delved into the modifications in training and regulations. The Carnival sinking cruise ship 2012 incident underscored the need for more intensive crew training, emergency preparedness, and passenger safety briefings. These revisions were not mere suggestions but mandatory steps to solidify trust in cruise vacations for passengers and crew members alike.

Let’s delve into the specifics — the cruise industry witnessed the birth of new lifesaving protocols and evacuation drills that were now to be completed before a ship could even leave the harbor. Crew members underwent extensive training, focusing on their assigned roles and emergency response techniques. It was evident that the prior status quo could no longer stand, with the cruise ship crash Italy event catalyzing change.

Here’s a compiled list of safety advancements post- Costa Concordia disaster :

  • Introduction of mandatory muster drill before departure
  • Improved ship tracking and real-time data analysis
  • Enhanced hull integrity and multiple watertight compartments
  • In-depth damage control training for crew
  • Higher standards for bridge team management

To illustrate the difference these initiatives made, I present a comparative analysis of safety measures before and after the Italian cruise accident that marked 2012:

As the maritime community continues to remember the lives lost during the 2012 carnival sinking cruise ship tragedy, the commitment to perpetuating these enhanced cruise safety practices remains unwavering. To this day, the impact of the Costa Concordia disaster reverberates through every drill performed, every check made, and every safety briefing held on cruise ships roaming the seas . Such a colossal event reshaped an industry, and as we move forward, it steadfastly informs a global mission to secure the safety and enjoyment of passengers and crew for generations to come.

Costa Concordia Disaster – FAQ

What happened to the costa concordia cruise ship.

The Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground off the Tuscan island of Giglio, causing a shipwreck and a tragic maritime disaster.

How many people died in the Costa Concordia tragedy?

Thirty-two people lost their lives when the Costa Concordia cruise ship struck a reef and subsequently began to sink in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

What were the circumstances leading to the evacuation of the Costa Concordia?

The Costa Concordia began taking on water after it struck a reef, leading to a chaotic evacuation process to save the lives of passengers and crew members.

Who owned the Costa Concordia cruise ship?

The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia was owned by Costa Cruises, an Italian cruise line company.

What were the repercussions for the captain and crew of the Costa Concordia?

The captain and some crew members faced legal proceedings, including charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship, with potential sentences of years in prison for their roles in the tragedy.

What was the outcome of the salvage operation for the Costa Concordia?

The salvage workers successfully executed the most significant maritime salvage operation in history to refloat and remove the Costa Concordia from its resting place off the coast of Giglio Island.

When did the Costa Concordia disaster take place?

The Costa Concordia tragedy occurred on January 13, 2012, when the cruise liner struck a reef and began to sink.

What led to the Costa Concordia running aground?

The Costa Concordia sailed too close to the island of Giglio, ultimately striking a reef and causing the ship to start taking on water.

How did the evacuation of the Costa Concordia unfold?

After the Costa Concordia lost power and started listing, the Coast Guard and rescue teams were mobilized to order the evacuation of the ship, leading to a challenging and chaotic evacuation process in the aftermath of the shipwreck.

What role did the Costa Crociere’s crisis coordinator play in the Costa Concordia tragedy?

The crisis coordinator for Costa Crociere was involved in the aftermath of the shipwreck, coordinating response efforts and communication in the midst of the tragic events surrounding the Costa Concordia.

Final Thoughts

Looking back at the events, the Italian cruise ship that sank displayed a spectrum of human experiences—from oversight, haste, and fear to valor, altruism, and fortitude. The aftermath did not just account for the salvage and inquiry but also witnessed sweeping reforms aimed at fortifying maritime protocols. As a result, the cruise ship that sank in Italy in 2012 has been a catalyst for revised safety standards that Carnival and other cruise lines have diligently implemented, often surpassing the basics to ensure such catastrophes are not repeated.

The groundwork laid by this unfortunate event serves as a fulcrum for improved oversight within the maritime domain, reassuring those who venture across the seas. Indeed, the legacy of the Costa Concordia continues to resonate, a steadfast reminder of the cruise industry has responsibility to uphold the highest regard for passenger safety, environmental stewardship, and preparedness.

  • #CostaConcordia
  • #cruisenews
  • #cruiseship
  • #cruiseshipdisaster

John Shallo

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Costa Concordia Captain Now: What Happened to Francesco Schettino After Cruise Ship Disaster?

When the Costa Concordia disaster took place, the ship’s captain was an Italian shipmaster named Francesco Schettino. The Costa Concordia started its voyage on January 13, 2012, at 7:18 p.m. from Civitavecchia, Italy. It was supposed to reach Savona. Furthermore, the entire journey was going to take seven days. Unfortunately, it collided with a rock in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Furthermore, it did not take long for water to enter the ship and put its crew and passengers in danger. The Costa Concordia disaster took the lives of 32 individuals. Its captain, Francesco Schettino, was sentenced to sixteen years in prison in 2015 for charges like manslaughter, abandoning his ship, and being responsible for a maritime accident.

According to Cruise Mummy , Schettino went to Rebibbia prison in Rome to serve his time. Details of this disaster were explored in the two-episode docuseries titled Costa Concordia: The Whole Story. This project was released in 2012.

According to Apple TV+ , the synopsis of Costa Concordia: The Whole Story reads, “The story of the worst cruise accident since the Titanic the harrowing moment-by-moment narrative of how it happened from those who were aboard and the islanders who saved their lives. The in-depth description of advanced search and rescue operations to recover survivors and victims from the Costa Concordia as well as the technology and engineering behind the epic historical salvage operation to refloat the massive ship intact and tow it away.”

What did the resident pianist of Costa Concordia say about the maritime disaster?

A ntimo Magnotta is an Italian pianist and composer who started his career in 1992. He was present at the Costa Concordia when it crashed against a rock in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

In 2019, Paul González-Morgan interviewed Magnotta, in which the pianist spoke candidly about the tragedy that took the lives of 32 people .

He said, “On Friday, January 13, 2012, the Concordia had set out from Rome on the last leg of a seven-day Mediterranean cruise with 3,229 passengers and 1,023 crew on board. I sat down at the Yamaha baby grand in the Vienna Bar on aft deck five at 9.30 pm to entertain a handful of well-dressed guests.”

He further said,

“I was fully immersed in my beautiful daily routine. It was a lovely starry night. The weather conditions were ideal for navigation, the sea was as smooth as a table. All of a sudden, at 9.42 pm, the ship took a sudden swerve and started listing. I fell off the bench and the piano was torn from its safety locks and started drifting on the stage. No sound of a collision was heard on deck five, although those on lower decks would later tell me of the terrible tearing sound as a submerged rock ripped a huge hole in the engine compartments, just off the coast of the Island of Giglio.”

Antimo Magnotta even revealed that he lost two close friends in the disaster. Both were musicians: a violinist and a drummer.

The post Costa Concordia Captain Now: What Happened to Francesco Schettino After Cruise Ship Disaster? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More .

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What Happened to The Captain of The Costa Concordia? – Conviction and Sentence

In January of 2012 the Costa Concordia, a cruise ship sailing for Costa Cruises capsized off the coast of Tuscany. The accident caused 32 deaths.

The Captain sailing the ship at the time was captain Francesco Schettino, who had worked for Costa Cruises for 11 years.

When the Costa Concordia crashed, she had over 3000 passengers and 1000 crew members on board.

The captain of the Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino was found guilty of manslaughter in 2016 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Francesco Schettino was given 10 years for multiple manslaughters , 5 years for causing a shipwreck, and 1 year for abandoning the passengers at the time of the sinking.

costa concordia

What Role Did The Captain of The Costa Concordia Play in The Sinking of The Ship?

Schettino was the captain in charge of the cruise and was responsible for overseeing all safety aspects of the ship and cruise, including setting the course for the ship to follow.

In the case of the Costa Concordia, captain Schettino decided to sail closer to the coast than usual. It’s still unclear why he did this. Schettino said that Costa Cruises had asked him to perform a sail past but Costa Cruises have confirmed that Schettino didn’t take the approved route.

As the ship was sailing south of the entrance to Giglio Porto harbor in Tuscany, the side of the ship hit a reef. Schettino said that before approaching this area, he had turned off the alarm system for the navigational systems.

Schettino stated:

“I was navigating by sight, because I knew those seabeds well. I had done the move three, four times.” Schettino

When Schettino saw waves breaking on the reef, he turned abruptly and swung the side of the ship into the reef. It’s reported that this was approximately 300 metres from land.

When the ship first hit, Costa Cruises told passengers it was an electrical failure and would be soon fixed. Guests were told to go back to their cabins.

The ship began to list 20 degrees which made it difficult to launch lifeboats.

coast of tuscany

Why Did The Captain of The Costa Concordia Hit The Reef?

There are a number of theories as to why the Captain of the Costa Concordia hit the reef and sank the ship. The most likely reason is that Schettino was negligent and took too many risks.

Another theory is that Schettino was distracted by a lady he had brought onboard the ship. It’s reported that the two were in a romantic relationship, she did not pay to come onboard the cruise and was with Schettino at the time of the accident. Schettino did have a wife and daughter who were not on the cruise.

Some accounts have reported that Schettinos hair showed trace amounts of cocaine and that there was a considerable amount of cocaine on the ship as it capsized.

What Did Captain of The Costa Concordia do After Hitting The Reef?

The ship hit the reef at 22:12 and authorities were not alerted to the problem until 22:42 despite port officials asking the Costa Concordia if there was a problem on board. Schettino insisted the ship was just suffering from a blackout.

It’s a maritime tradition that the captain always goes down with his ship. Meaning that the captain should make sure that everybody else is off the ship before they disembark. Francesco didn’t do this and decided instead to save himself.

He disobeyed orders to go back to the ship.

Now you go to the bow, you climb up the emergency ladder and coordinate the evacuation. You must tell us how many people, children, women and passengers are there and the exact number of each category,” said officials to Francesco Schettino. “What are you doing? Are you abandoning the rescue? Captain, this is an order, I am the one in charge now. You have declared abandoning ship,” he said, adding: “There are already bodies.” “How many?” Schettino says, prompting the cutting reply: “That is for you to tell me, what are you doing? Do you want to go home?” –  source

The full conversation with Captain Schettino can be heard on the video below (english subtitles available).

By 01:00 there were 100 passengers still on the ship. A full 90 minutes after Schettino had abandoned the ship.

At 03:00 it’s estimated that 40-50 people were still onboard. 32 bodies were later recovered from the wreckage.

Recommended Watching: Terror At Sea – The Sinking Of The Concordia

To hear real life accounts of the events mentioned above I’d recommend watching the documentary Terror at Sea. It’s the best documentary I’ve seen about the accident. The documentary explores sinking in detail and has a number of interesting interviews with the people that were involved.

The show can be watched on Amazon Prime. If you don’t have Amazon Prime you can use this link to sign up for a 30 day free trial. You won’t need more than 30 days to watch the show, it’s only 47 minutes long.

What Was The Captain of The Costa Concordia Sentenced For?

The courts had to decide why Schettino followed a different route, why a mayday wasn’t immediately called and why he abandoned the ship.

Captain Schettino was detained on suspicion of manslaughter. He was charged with causing a shipwreck caused by ‘imprudence, negligence and incompetence ‘ . He was also charged for abandoning 300 people who were unable to disembark the ship.

costa concordia

Costa Concordia Crew Convicted Crimes and Prison Times

The following crew members were found guilty following the sinking of the Costa Concordia.

Is The Costa Concordia Captain Still in Prison?

The captain of the Costa Concordia Francesco Schettino is still in prison for his part in the sinking. He was sentenced to 16 years in 2016. He was 54 at the time and not expected to leave prison until he is at least 70 years old.

The captain should be in prison until 2032 and is serving his sentence in Rome.

The Costa Concordia Changed Cruising Forever

Following the sinking of the Costa Concordia, a number of safety measures were put in place.

At the time of the sinking, guests boarding a cruise had to have a safety drill within 24 hours of embarkation, this meant that guests who had embarked on the day of the accident hadn’t yet had their safety drill.

To learn more about how the accident changed the muster drill, check out this post: What is a Muster Drill on a Cruise? Everything You Need to Know

Taking a Cruise: Recommendations and Resources Book a Cruise Get Travel Insurance Emma Cruises Shop My Favourite Bags – Mia Tui

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The marine insurance industry is bracing for huge claims from the Baltimore bridge disaster

  • Huge insurance claims are expected after the Dali collided with a major bridge on Tuesday.
  • The claims could be on par with the $1.5 billion from the Costa Concordia disaster, an expert told Insurance Business.
  • Insurance claims could include damage to the ship, business interruption, and worker compensation.

Insider Today

The marine insurance industry is bracing for huge claims from Tuesday's Baltimore bridge disaster.

Insurance claims from the collision of the Dali containership with the Francis Scott Key Bridge could be on par with a 2012 maritime disaster that led to $1.5 billion in payouts, John Miklus, the president of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters, told trade magazine Insurance Business on Tuesday.

Luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Italy in January 2012, killing 32 people in one of Europe's worst modern maritime tragedies. That disaster led to the marine insurance industry's highest payout, according to the trade publication.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this were similar," Miklus told Insurance Business.

It was not immediately clear how long it took to settle all of Costa Concordia's claims, but it appears to have taken at least a few years.

"You've got various components to the loss," Miklus added. "A big one is going to be rebuilding the bridge and all the loss of revenue and loss of tolls while that's taking place."

Related stories

The Baltimore bridge brought in about $53 million in toll revenue for the Maryland Transportation Authority in 2023, Moody's analyst Cintia Nazima told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

Other insurance claims from Dali's Baltimore collision could include damage to the ship and its cargo, as well as business interruption, property, trade credit, and worker compensation, per Business Insurance.

The marine insurance and reinsurance markets are likely to foot most of the bills, S&P Global reported on Tuesday.

The Baltimore bridge itself is insured by insurance giant Chubb, per Insurance Insider.

Dali, the ship, is covered by Britannia P&I Club, a specialist insurer that provides protection and indemnity cover for the maritime industry. Britannia is a member of the London-based International Group of P&I Clubs.

The International Group of P&I Clubs will only cover the first $10 million in claims from any one incident, per the company's website. The remaining bill will be shared by the members, groups from specialist marketplace Lloyd's of London, and reinsurers.

The claims process could take years, mirroring the situation surrounding the Ever Given containership, which ran aground and blocked the Suez Canal for six days in March 2021.

SCOR, a French reinsurer estimated in June 2022 that Ever Given's claims could top $2 billion.

"It will take many years to settle the claims from the Ever Given and the process will include much debate about who is liable," SCOR wrote in the report. "The issue of responsibilities and applicable laws in today's global maritime world is complex."

Watch: The container ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge has crashed before

concordia cruise ship now

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Video shows Carnival Freedom on fire, again. Two upcoming cruises were canceled. Here's what to know

The Carnival Freedom 's next two sailings have been canceled after the cruise ship, based out of Florida, caught fire . Again.

Carnival initially said there were no expected changes in its schedule but on Sunday afternoon announced cancellations of the Monday and Friday cruises out of Port Canaveral, which come during a busy spring break period.

"Regrettably, the damage is more than we first thought, and will require an immediate repair to stabilize the funnel, resulting in the cancellation of the March 25 and March 29 cruises from Port Canaveral," according to a statement issued by Matt Lupoli, Carnival Cruise Line's senior manager of public relations. "The funnel has been stabilized for the ship’s return to Port Canaveral overnight to disembark guests, and then it will go to the Freeport shipyard on Monday afternoon to begin the required repairs."

This is the second time in less than two years this cruise ship's funnel has caught on fire and disrupted the schedule.

Carnival cruise fire: Carnival Freedom's next two cruises from Port Canaveral canceled after exhaust funnel fire

When did the Carnival Freedom catch on fire?

The fire broke out on the port side of the ship's exhaust funnel area at about 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Carnival said.

The ship was 20 miles off Eleuthera Island, Bahamas. It was intended to call on the Carnival private island of Princess Cay but had rerouted toward Freeport due to adverse weather.

"The ship’s fire response team was quickly activated, and the ship’s captain also turned the vessel towards the heavy rain in the area to maximize the efforts to put out the flames," an earlier Carnival statement said. The fire was put out by 5:20 p.m., the cruise line said.

Why did the Carnival Freedom cruise ship catch fire?

From Stormy Lee: “Tail on fire on Carnival Freedom. We were headed toward Freeport but it has now turned around headed back toward Princess Cays Bahamas” The fire has been extinguished and the passengers are safe. pic.twitter.com/fe1yipiq5Z — James Spann (@spann) March 23, 2024

Unknown at this time.

"Eyewitnesses reported the possibility of a lightning strike, and that is being investigated," Carnival said, "but cannot yet be confirmed."

Was anyone hurt in the Carnival Freedom fire?

The cruise line said there were no reports of passenger injuries, although two firefighting crew members were treated for minor smoke inhalation and part of the funnel fell onto Deck 10, according to Carnival.

There were about 3.700 passengers aboard.

Which Carnival Freedom cruises have been canceled?

While initially the cruise line said the schedule would not be affected, further investigation found more damage than suspected. Scheduled cruises for Monday, March 25 and Friday, March 29 have been canceled.

Can I get a refund for my canceled Carnival Freedom cruise?

"We sincerely regret the impact to our embarking guests, as we know they have been looking forward to their spring break vacation

Where is Port Canaveral?

Port Canaveral, Florida is located on a barrier island between the Banana River and the Atlantic Ocean just north of Cape Canaveral. The port is 54 miles from Orlando and 75 miles from Daytona Beach.

What is the funnel on a cruise ship?

A cruise ship exhaust funnel works as a smokestack to lift emissions away from the deck and from passengers and crew. They're often called stacks.

The Carnival Freedom debuted a new stylized winged funnel in October last year after a 16-day dry-dock refurbishment in Cadiz, Spain. Carnival cruise funnels are referred to as the whale tail.

Has the Carnival Freedom cruise ship caught on fire before?

A fire broke out in the funnel area in May 2022 while it was docked in Grand Turk. Three scheduled sailings were canceled while the ship was repaired at a shipyard in Grand Bahama.

The ship was carrying about 2,500 passengers at the time and a crew of about 1,100, according to the cruise line. There were no injuries reported.

Which cruise ship caught fire?

The  Carnival Freedom  caught on fire on Saturday, March 23.

The 110,000-ton vessel made its inaugural sail in 2007.  The Freedom, which has 13 decks, can hold up to 3,754 passengers and 1,150 crew members.

Has a Carnival cruise ship ever sank?

No. But one has been shipwrecked.

On Jan. 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia struck a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. The ship, which was owned by a Carnival Corporation subsidiary, when the captain steered the 952-foot, 13-deck ship close to the shore to "impress the passengers" and tore a 160-foot gash in the port hull.

Captain Francesco Schettino was found guilty of manslaughter in 2015 and sentenced to 16 years in prison for the deaths of 32 passengers and crewmembers.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Carnival Freedom catches fire, cancels Monday, Friday Florida cruises

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Follow along for live updates after a container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

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Baltimore Bridge Crash Investigators to Examine Whether Dirty Fuel Played Role in Accident

A safety probe into a Baltimore bridge collapse will include whether contaminated fuel played a role in a giant cargo ship losing power and crashing into the span, according to people familiar with the investigation.

Safety investigators hadn’t boarded the ship, called the Dali, late Tuesday afternoon while it remained stuck at a pillar of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The vessel could remain in that location for weeks. Rescue crews spent much of Tuesday searching for potential survivors.

The lights on the Dali began to flicker about an hour after the ship began its voyage early Tuesday. A harbor pilot and assistant reported power issues and a loss of propulsion before the crash, according to a Coast Guard briefing report viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

“The vessel went dead, no steering power and no electronics,” said an officer aboard the ship Tuesday. “One of the engines coughed and then stopped. The smell of burned fuel was everywhere in the engine room and it was pitch black.” The ship didn’t have time to drop anchors to stop drifting, the officer said. Crew members issued a mayday call before the accident.

Blackouts at sea aren’t common, but they do happen and have long been considered a major accident risk for ships.

One cause is contaminated fuel that can create problems with the ship’s main power generators, said Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect in Athens. A complete blackout could result in a ship losing propulsion, he said. Smaller generators can kick in but they can’t carry all the functions of the main ones and take time to fire up.

The investigation will include reviews of the vessel’s operations and safety record as well as those of its owner and operator, said Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, during a press conference. Crews will look at securing recorders, similar to a plane’s black box, from the vessel to better understand what happened.

The agency didn’t comment on what issues investigators have uncovered so far in connection with the incident.

“This is a team effort,” said Homendy. “There are a lot of entities right now in the command post.”

The Dali was built in 2015 by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries. The Panamax-type ship, which can carry up to 10,000 containers, is an industry workhorse and one of thousands that regularly transit through the Panama and Suez Canals. While dwarfed by the biggest containerships, a vessel the Dali’s size is typical for U.S. ports on the East Coast. A few days before entering Baltimore’s harbor, the ship had stopped in Norfolk, Va.

The ship has had more than 20 port state control inspections—reviews of foreign ships in national ports—since it was built, according to data from Equasis, an international shipping database. None of the listed inspections resulted in a detention, which could occur when a ship is deemed unfit to travel.

Deficiencies were noted in two such reviews: one done in Belgium in July 2016 that noted hull damage and another in Chile in June 2023 that reported an issue with the ship’s propulsion and auxiliary machinery, Equasis data show. The U.S. Coast Guard completed an examination of the vessel in September 2023 and didn’t identify any issues.

On the voyage Tuesday, Singapore-based Synergy Marine Group operated the vessel and it was hauling cargo for Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk. The nearly 1,000-foot-long ship departed from a terminal at the Port of Baltimore and was heading to Sri Lanka. A Singaporean company, Grace Ocean Pte., owns the ship.

Two tugboats helped the ship steer out of the terminal Tuesday, but they pulled back early in the voyage, according to port officials. There were two pilots and 22 crew members from India aboard the vessel during the crash, said Darrell Wilson, a spokesman for Synergy Marine.

The ship was moving around 9.2 mph, according to authorities, which is typical for vessels traveling in the area. Ships as large as the Dali need to maintain a certain speed to avoid being pushed around by winds and currents.

The bridge collapse is set to lead to a multibillion-dollar string of insurance claims, covering everything from the loss of the structure itself to the disruption to businesses using the port, insurance analysts said. The Francis Scott Key Bridge was built in 1977 at a cost more than $60 million, which is around $300 million today when adjusted for inflation. Victims of the crash could also file claims against the ship operator.

The scale and complicated nature of the losses mean litigation is inevitable, analysts and academics said.

“You can write off the next 10 years in court actions,” said Robert Merkin, a law professor at the University of Reading.

Reinsurers, which take on risks sold to them by insurers, “will bear the bulk of the insured cost,” said Mathilde Jakobsen, a senior director at ratings firm AM Best.

The ship’s insurer, Britannia P&I Club, belongs to a group of specialized marine insurers that have reinsurance cover of up to $3.1 billion per vessel. Britannia said it is working to “help ensure that this situation is dealt with quickly and professionally.”

Claims on the ship’s coverage could be complicated by quirks in marine insurance law, such as a convention that limits liability based on the ship’s value.

One of the biggest claims in recent years was associated with the Costa Concordia, a cruise ship that sank near an Italian island in 2012. Thirty-two people died in the incident, and insurers paid more than $2 billion to claimants, according to London-based marine insurers. The 2022 fire and sinking of the car carrier, Felicity Ace, resulted in more than $500 million paid out under insurance policies.

Jean Eaglesham contributed to this article.

Write to Costas Paris at [email protected]

Baltimore Bridge Crash Investigators to Examine Whether Dirty Fuel Played Role in Accident

Insurers could face losses of up to $4 bln after Baltimore bridge tragedy-analyst

  • Claims could total up to $4 bln, record for shipping disaster
  • Insurance lines affected include property, marine, liability
  • International Group of P&I marine insurers have reinsurance cover of $3.1 bln
  • AXA lead reinsurer on first layer of IG reinsurance cover-Insurance Information Institute

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse could cost insurers billions of dollars in claims, analysts say, with one putting it at as much as $4 billion, which would make the tragedy a record shipping insurance loss.

Six people are still missing after a collision with a Singapore-flagged container ship destroyed the landmark bridge on Tuesday, forcing the closure of one of the busiest U.S. ports.

With little clarity on when the Port of Baltimore would re-open, insurers and analysts are now assessing the likely losses borne by underwriters across several product lines including property, cargo, marine, liability, trade credit and contingent business interruption.

"Depending on the length of the blockage and the nature of the business interruption coverage for the Port of Baltimore, insured losses could total between $2 billion and $4 billion," said Marcos Alvarez, managing director for global insurance ratings at Morningstar DBRS. That would surpass the record insured losses of the Costa Concordia luxury cruise liner disaster in 2012, he said.

Mathilde Jakobsen, senior director, analytics at insurance ratings agency AM Best, also said the claims would likely run into "billions of dollars".

Ship liability insurance, which covers marine environmental damage and injury, is provided through protection and indemnity insurers known as P&I Clubs.

The International Group of P&I Clubs collectively insures approximately 90% of the world's ocean-going tonnage and member P&I clubs mutually reinsure each other by sharing claims above $10 million. The IG Group declined to comment.

According to AM Best, the group holds general excess of loss reinsurance cover up to the value of $3.1 billion.

SPREADING THE COST

Moody's Ratings analyst Brandan Holmes said approximately 80 different reinsurers provided that cover to the ship's insurers.

"While the total claim is expected to be high, it is unlikely to be significant for individual reinsurers since it will be spread across so many," he said.

Insurer Britannia P&I said in a statement that vessel, named the Dali, was entered with the club, adding that it was working closely with the ship manager and relevant authorities "to establish the facts and to help ensure that this situation is dealt with quickly and professionally".

Alvarez said the disaster would likely put upward pressure on marine insurance rates globally.

Initial estimates of the cost of rebuilding the bridge, which is likely to be paid by the federal government, are at $600 million, economic software analysis company IMPLAN said.

The closure of the port for just one month could see a total loss of $28 million for the state of Maryland, according to IMPLAN analysis.

"The economic disruption and pain felt by businesses and individuals in Maryland and the Baltimore economic area will be widespread and likely take years to fully comprehend and compensate those affected," said Julien Horn, partner, Ports & Terminals and Logistics, at insurance broker McGill and Partners.

IMAGES

  1. See how Costa Concordia cruise ship will float for first time after

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  2. WATCH: Time-Lapse Video Of The Costa Concordia Being Righted

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  3. Costa Concordia completes its final voyage

    concordia cruise ship now

  4. A Current Look At and Inside the Dismantled Costa Concordia

    concordia cruise ship now

  5. Raising the Concordia: A ‘perfect’ operation

    concordia cruise ship now

  6. Photos: Raising the Costa Concordia

    concordia cruise ship now

VIDEO

  1. Virtual Sailor: COSTA CONCORDIA Sinking

  2. Costa Concordia: 10 YEARS OF THE SINKING

  3. Costa Concordia Disaster Dining Room 3

  4. Concordia survivors demand mega compensation

  5. 2012 costa Concordia cruise ship accident #cruise #shipspotting #shipaccident #shipvideo

COMMENTS

  1. Costa Concordia disaster

    MS Costa Concordia in Palma, Majorca, in 2011. Costa Concordia (call sign: IBHD, IMO number: 9320544, MMSI number: 247158500), with 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew members on board, was sailing off Isola del Giglio on the night of 13 January 2012, having begun a planned seven-day cruise from Civitavecchia, Lazio, Italy, to Savona and five other ports. The port side of the ship struck a reef at ...

  2. Ten years on, Costa Concordia shipwreck still haunts survivors

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  3. Costa Concordia

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  4. Where is the Costa Concordia Now?

    Maritime Nightmare. More than a year after it ran aground with 4,252 people aboard, shocking viewers worldwide, the cruise ship Costa Concordia remains wedged on rocks near the Italian island ...

  5. Where Is The Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Now? (2024)

    27 July 2014 - The ship reaches Genoa port and dismantling begins. 11 May 2015 - After the initial dismantling is complete, the ship is towed to the Superbacino dock in Genoa where the upper decks will be removed. August 2016 - The last of the sponsons are removed from the ship. 1 September 2016 - The ship is taken into drydock for the ...

  6. Survivor recounts Costa Concordia cruise capsizing 10 years later

    0:00. 1:35. GIGLIO, Italy — Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. But for the passengers on board and the ...

  7. The Wrecked Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Is Finally Being Towed Away

    The MS Costa Concordia, the Italian cruise ship that killed 32 people when it sank off the coast off Isola del Giglio in 2012, has just been sitting off the Tuscan coast ever since.This morning ...

  8. How the Wreck of a Cruise Liner Changed an Italian Island

    Ten years ago the Costa Concordia ran aground off the Tuscan island of Giglio, killing 32 people and entwining the lives of others forever. ... It was owned by a local family, and Mr. Dietrich now ...

  9. 10 years later, Costa Concordia disaster haunts survivors

    10 years later, Costa Concordia disaster is still vivid for survivors. The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia lies on its starboard side after running aground off the coast of the Isola del Giglio ...

  10. Key dates in Costa Concordia shipwreck, trial and cleanup

    2 of 12 | . FILE— The grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia is seen through a window on the Isola del Giglio island, Italy, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers ...

  11. Capsized Costa Concordia Is Finally Set to Leave Its Watery Grave

    After more than two and a half years and $1 billion, the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia is about to set sail again, although it won't be under its own power. The move could not come too ...

  12. The Costa Concordia Disaster: How Human Error Made It Worse

    Former captain of the Costa Concordia Francesco Schettino speaks with reporters after being aboard the ship with the team of experts inspecting the wreck on February 27, 2014 in Isola del Giglio ...

  13. 10 years later, Costa Concordia disaster vivid for survivors

    2 of 13 | . FILE— The grounded cruise ship Costa Concordia is seen through a window on the Isola del Giglio island, Italy, Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Italy on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, is marking the 10th anniversary of the Concordia disaster with a daylong commemoration, honoring the 32 people who died but also the extraordinary response by the residents of Giglio who took in the 4,200 passengers ...

  14. A Current Look At and Inside the Dismantled Costa Concordia

    The effort to dismantle the ill-fated Costa Concordia continues in Genoa, Italy with approximately 200 technicians now working to cut up and remove all fittings and structures from the vessel ...

  15. What happened to the Costa Concordia?

    The total cost to scrap Costa Concordia was nearly $800 million. Following the removal of the fuel in March 2012, plans were set in place to arrange for the ship to be scrapped, and for two-and-a-half years, Costa Concordia remained off the coast of Italy. In September 2013, a parbuckling procedure brought the ship to an upright position.

  16. Inside the Rotting Wreck of the Costa Concordia

    The 2012 Costa Concordia shipwreck is the most famous maritime disaster of the 21st century. In January of that year, the cruise ship struck a rock off the Mediterranean island of Isola del Giglio ...

  17. Costa Concordia Dismantling

    Costa Concordia Dismantling - in Pictures. Published Sep 29, 2015 12:13 AM by Wendy Laursen. About 200 technicians are currently working on the dismantling of the Costa Concordia . Some are ...

  18. Haunting photos from inside the wrecked cruise ship Costa Concordia

    In August of 2014—two years and seven months after the cruise ship the Costa Concordia sank off the coast of the Tuscan island Giglio, claiming 32 lives—photographer Jonathan Danko Kielkowski swam aboard to document what was left. At that point, the ship had only recently been raised from the bottom of the ocean, having spend two and a half ...

  19. Exactly What Happened To The Costa Concordia?

    Costa Concordia wreck site off Giglio Island, Italy. Following the unprecedented Italian cruise ship crash, the small community on Giglio Island swiftly became a rescue operation hub. Concordia ship now lay crippled, its metallic carcass a stark contrast to the tranquil waters that it had disturbed. As a journalist, I stand amidst the remnants of what was once a testament to luxury, now a ...

  20. Costa Concordia disaster

    Costa Concordia disaster, the capsizing of an Italian cruise ship on January 13, 2012, after it struck rocks off the coast of Giglio Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea.More than 4,200 people were rescued, though 32 people died in the disaster.Several of the ship's crew, notably Capt. Francesco Schettino, were charged with various crimes.. Construction and maiden voyage

  21. Francesco Schettino

    Francesco Schettino. Francesco Schettino ( Italian pronunciation: [franˈtʃesko sketˈtiːno]; born 14 November 1960) [1] is an Italian former shipmaster who commanded the cruise ship Costa Concordia when it struck an underwater rock and capsized off the Italian island of Giglio on 13 January 2012. [2] [3] Thirty-two passengers and crew died.

  22. Costa Concordia Captain Now: What Happened to Francesco ...

    When the Costa Concordia disaster took place, the ship's captain was an Italian shipmaster named Francesco Schettino. The Costa Concordia started its voyage on January 13, 2012, at 7:18 p.m ...

  23. What Happened to The Captain of The Costa Concordia?

    In January of 2012 the Costa Concordia, a cruise ship sailing for Costa Cruises capsized off the coast of Tuscany. The accident caused 32 deaths. The Captain sailing the ship at the time was captain Francesco Schettino, who had worked for Costa Cruises for 11 years. When the Costa Concordia crashed, she had over 3000 passengers and 1000 crew ...

  24. Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Insurance Claims Could Hit $1.5 Billion

    Redeem now Huge insurance claims are expected after the Dali collided with a major bridge on Tuesday. ... Luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Italy in January 2012 ...

  25. Video shows Carnival Freedom on fire, again. Two upcoming cruises were

    The Carnival Freedom 's next two sailings have been canceled after the cruise ship, based out of Florida, caught fire. Again. Carnival initially said there were no expected changes in its schedule but on Sunday afternoon announced cancellations of the Monday and Friday cruises out of Port Canaveral, which come during a busy spring break period.

  26. Baltimore Bridge Crash Investigators to Examine Whether Dirty ...

    "There are a lot of entities right now in the command post." ... One of the biggest claims in recent years was associated with the Costa Concordia, a cruise ship that sank near an Italian ...

  27. Insurers face record $3bn bill from Baltimore bridge collapse

    Subscribe now Free for one month Log in. Follow us on: More from The Telegraph ... The biggest payout so far was $1.5bn, recorded when the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground in 2012.

  28. Insurers could face losses of up to $4 bln after Baltimore bridge

    Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse could cost insurers billions of dollars in claims, analysts say, with one putting it at as much as $4 billion, which would make the tragedy a record shipping insurance loss. Six people are still missing after a collision with a Singapore-flagged container ship destroyed the landmark bridge on ...