MARITIME DISASTER, OFF THE COAST OF GIGLIO ISLAND, MEDITERRANEAN SEA [2012]
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. Several of the ship’s crew, notably Capt. Francesco Schettino, were charged with various crimes.
Construction And Maiden Voyage
-The Costa Concordia was owned by Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & PLC. When launched in 2005, it was Italy’s largest cruise ship, measuring 951 feet (290 metres) long with a passenger capacity of 3,780; by comparison, the Titanic was 882.5 feet (269 metres) long and could accommodate up to 2,435 passengers. The Concordia was known for its luxuries. It featured four swimming pools, a casino, and reportedly the largest spa on a ship. In July 2006 the vessel undertook its maiden voyage, a seven-day cruise of the Mediterranean Sea, with stops in Italy, France, and Spain. That became its standard route.
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. Several of the ship’s crew, notably Capt. Francesco Schettino, were charged with various crimes.
Construction And Maiden Voyage
-The Costa Concordia was owned by Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & PLC. When launched in 2005, it was Italy’s largest cruise ship, measuring 951 feet (290 metres) long with a passenger capacity of 3,780; by comparison, the Titanic was 882.5 feet (269 metres) long and could accommodate up to 2,435 passengers. The Concordia was known for its luxuries. It featured four swimming pools, a casino, and reportedly the largest spa on a ship. In July 2006 the vessel undertook its maiden voyage, a seven-day cruise of the Mediterranean Sea, with stops in Italy, France, and Spain. That became its standard route.
Collision And Rescue
On January 13, 2012, the Concordia left Civitavecchia, Italy, at approximately 7:18 PM. On board were 1,023 crew members and 3,206 passengers. As the Concordia approached Giglio Island several hours later, it deviated from its standard course, moving closer to the small Tuscan island for a maritime “salute,” a common practice that included the cruise ship sounding its horn; the Concordia had performed several in the past. The area was known for rock outcroppings, and at some point, such a formation was noticed in the ship’s path. Schettino, a captain of more than seven years, ordered a change in course, but due to language issues, the Indonesian helmsman steered the boat in the opposite direction. It reportedly took 13 seconds to correct the maneuver. The boat’s bow ultimately swung clear, but the stern collided with the reef at approximately 9:45 PM. Confusion on the bridge resulted in conflicting orders, but the damage had been done: the Concordia’s port (left) side had suffered a 174-foot (53-metre) tear.
An assessment of the damage revealed that five compartments, including the engine room, were flooding, and the ship soon lost power. In addition, with neither the engines nor rudder functioning, the ship could not be steered. However, the wind and the stuck position of the rudder caused the Concordia to turn back toward the island. While the change in direction made the later rescue easier, it caused the ship to start listing to the starboard side. The drifting Concordia eventually ran aground near the shore. During this time, a panicked passenger contacted her daughter in Italy, and the Italian coast guard called the Concordia at about 10:14 PM. Schettino, however, downplayed the damage, only noting that the vessel had experienced a blackout. Some 10 minutes later the coast guard contacted the ship again, and at this time the crew admitted that the vessel was taking on water. However, Schettino’s only request was for tugboats.
At 10:39 PM the first rescue vessel arrived. Approximately 15 minutes later, Schettino finally ordered the Concordia abandoned, though according to reports, lifeboats had already been launched. At around 11:20 PM Schettino left the bridge and soon after abandoned ship; he subsequently claimed that he fell off the Concordia and landed in a lifeboat. Some 13 minutes later the last crew member departed the bridge, even though approximately 300 people were still on the ailing vessel. By 12:00 AM on January 14, the Concordia had a severe list, making the release of lifeboats difficult and forcing many to use ladders.
At 12:40 AM a coast guard captain called Schettino, who was in a lifeboat with other Concordia officers, and ordered him to return to the vessel and oversee the evacuation. He refused. By this time, however, the rescue operations included 25 patrol boats, 14 merchant vessels, and numerous helicopters, and by early morning, 4,194 people were evacuated from the Concordia and taken to Giglio Island, which had a permanent population of less than 1,000. At 6:17 AM on January 14 search efforts were temporarily suspended, but the following day divers rescued three more from inside the Concordia. They were the remaining survivors. Thirty-two people died in the disaster, and the last body was not recovered until November 2014.
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