Costa Concordia SINKING

[PizzaJohn 7]

Yeah but he wants a system with a joystick too !!!!......

 

Maybe he is basing his system on GTA or similar, but a nautical theme !!!

 

rgds

:D

 

I wonder if the lad with remote control can go back to the last level and start again if the ship hits that obstacle/quayside?

[freagan]

I have read different things about this offer. First though the offer is a refund plus 30 per cent off future cruises, not just 30% off of future cruises. Second a travel agent friend thinks that offer was only made to those who had booked Concordia future sailings that are now canceled. That it was not for those on the doomed sailing. That would make a difference. Does anyone know if that is the case? Or was that offer also to those on the doomed sailing. We can't rely on the news media for the correct answer.

 

Costa has responded: Passengers on board the Costa Concordia on the night of the accident have not been offered a discount on future cruises.

 

Costa is refunding the full cost of the cruise, the expenses incurred on board the ship, any transportation costs incurred to reach their port of embarkation and return home if transfers organized by the company were not used. Costa Concordia guests also will be reimbursed any medical expenses they may have incurred as a result of the accident. As regards items left in the safe in the cabin, these will be returned to guests as soon as we recover the safes. Regarding the loss of personal belongings and other forms of compensation, we will be contacting guests in the very near future.

[SarniaLo]

The person or persons would have to be trained with known experience and credentials for it to work.

Ship captains are trained persons with known experience and credentials. Why would you trust more someone outside the ship than someone actually on board? (I really wouldn't).

[Uniall]

An actor. Very cute. Nice accent. Too young. :(

 

Is he another modern pretty boy? I still prefer the rugged guys of yore: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, etc. even over the pretty boys of their era. LOL

[Leadft]

I'd rather take that than climb down a rope ladder or a net and then have to drop into the sea!

 

LOL!!! Are the chutes all that skinny?! Have they SEEN most cruise passengers?!?! Aye aye aye - that thing would back up and nobody would get off the ship!

[Thoie]

How the plot thickens....

 

Crew accepted a payoff in tips while loading lifeboats?!?!? :eek:

 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4079109/Rich-Russians-bought-lifeboat-places-as-Costa-Concordia-sank.html

 

I can tell from the domain that I don't even need to open the link - it'll be unfounded rubbish, with some salacious details and a bit of shock value. From reading the URL I suspect there were Russian mob bosses shoving wads of cash at people to be allowed passed the velvet rope into the special VIP lifeboats? Did any of them kick a puppy, or push a child out of the way while doing this?

 

The Sun and The Daily Mail in the UK are not renowned for their investigative journalism, unless they're deliberately accessing the voicemail systems of various victims.

[gentlemancruiser]

How is this post in ANY way related to the Costa Concordia sinking or cruise ships, please explain

 

I can't understand why are you posting each story here?

 

For you folks that could use an up lifting story about seamanship and captains, last month I wrote 2 articles on Laura Dekker, a 16 year old who solo circumnavigated, starting her grand voyage at 14. On 1-21-12 she finished at Simpson Bay on the dual nationality (French, Dutch) island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean.

 

I am moving each story to Cruise Critic, piece by piece here....

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1554466

 

and here

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1555225

and her voyage continues, so after I get it up to date here, I'll keep it up to date.

 

Unlike other threads, all are welcome to comment, steer off topic, or tell about their own gifted off spring. After the "downer" this accident has been to a lot of us, this topic is a breath of fresh (and young) air.

[watertheodds]

I find it hard to believe that Costa would encourage the “fly by” of Giglio as a marketing tool as the Captain has indicated during his interrogation. The island’s full time population is 1428 and reportedly swells to 5000 during the summer season and dropping to 900 during the winter months. There are reportedly 12 hotels on the island along with camping facilities and of course private vacation rentals. 5000 people viewing a cruise ship would hardly be a good value for marketing/advertising for the cruise line during peak times of the year let alone in the winter for 900 full time residents.

[Leadft]

I have read different things about this offer. First though the offer is a refund plus 30 per cent off future cruises, not just 30% off of future cruises. Second a travel agent friend thinks that offer was only made to those who had booked Concordia future sailings that are now canceled. That it was not for those on the doomed sailing. That would make a difference. Does anyone know if that is the case? Or was that offer also to those on the doomed sailing. We can't rely on the news media for the correct answer.

 

Your explanation is the exact way I understood it as well.

[captainmcd]

Ship captains are trained persons with known experience and credentials. Why would you trust more someone outside the ship than someone actually on board? (I really wouldn't).

 

Charles, I have to agree with DaveyJones on this one. Consider cruise lines hiring extra captains to monitor traffic 24/7 from some distant control room. Very expensive, but nice for us captains who would like extra work ashore. Poor companies with only one or two ships, they would have two captains on duty for each ship. If there were many ships, that duty port captain would be monitoring many ships and have a hard time keeping up with developments on multiple situations. But most importantly so much of skillful shiphandling depends on accurate visual imputs from the bridge. Small vessels without AIS in your area may not be detected by radar, but you still need to maneuver with respect to them. Your advance and transfer in turns need to be judged visually, not by some remote person. I understand your concern for a second opinion, but we are all trained in Bridge Resource Management and should be aware of imput from others on the bridge, but you can not run a ship by consensus of opinion and hold meetings. You have to call the shots without delay and take the responsibility on yourself. It would be like trying to have two drivers on the freeway, both with control, and making different split second decisions. It would not work.

[gentlemancruiser]

I find it hard to believe that Costa would encourage the “fly by” of Giglio as a marketing tool as the Captain has indicated during his interrogation. The island’s full time population is 1428 and reportedly swells to 5000 during the summer season and dropping to 900 during the winter months. There are reportedly 12 hotels on the island along with camping facilities and of course private vacation rentals. 5000 people viewing a cruise ship would hardly be a good value for marketing/advertising for the cruise line during peak times of the year let alone in the winter for 900 full time residents.

 

I couldn't agree with you more. I am having a hard time listening to anything this Captain has to say.

 

Everything he has said from Jan 13th onwards is begining to look like swiss cheeze!

[jules1121]

I find it hard to believe that Costa would encourage the “fly by” of Giglio as a marketing tool as the Captain has indicated during his interrogation. The island’s full time population is 1428 and reportedly swells to 5000 during the summer season and dropping to 900 during the winter months. There are reportedly 12 hotels on the island along with camping facilities and of course private vacation rentals. 5000 people viewing a cruise ship would hardly be a good value for marketing/advertising for the cruise line during peak times of the year let alone in the winter for 900 full time residents.

 

Especially on a cool night where there probably aren't alot of people outside. It would be more believeable if it were summer in the middle of the day or during a festival.

[SarniaLo]

Ship captains are trained persons with known experience and credentials. Why would you trust more someone outside the ship than someone actually on board? (I really wouldn't).

Charles, I have to agree with DaveyJones on this one. (...) But most importantly so much of skillful shiphandling depends on accurate visual imputs from the bridge. Small vessels without AIS in your area may not be detected by radar, but you still need to maneuver with respect to them. Your advance and transfer in turns need to be judged visually, not by some remote person. I understand your concern for a second opinion, but we are all trained in Bridge Resource Management and should be aware of imput from others on the bridge, but you can not run a ship by consensus of opinion and hold meetings. You have to call the shots without delay and take the responsibility on yourself. It would be like trying to have two drivers on the freeway, both with control, and making different split second decisions. It would not work.

I am not DavyJones, but I'm really flattered :p (and I'm glad you agree).

But that was my point exactly, there is so much to be assessed when you are on board that wouldn't be possible from a remote position. Honestly, I would find the idea very scary.

[peterhof]

Costa has responded: Passengers on board the Costa Concordia on the night of the accident have not been offered a discount on future cruises.

 

Costa is refunding the full cost of the cruise, the expenses incurred on board the ship, any transportation costs incurred to reach their port of embarkation and return home if transfers organized by the company were not used. Costa Concordia guests also will be reimbursed any medical expenses they may have incurred as a result of the accident. As regards items left in the safe in the cabin, these will be returned to guests as soon as we recover the safes. Regarding the loss of personal belongings and other forms of compensation, we will be contacting guests in the very near future.

 

Costa's offer to refund all monies paid to those that have booked a future Costa cruise and do not now wish to go, must have eased the minds of many Europeans and Brits. Unlike folks who have booked their cruise in the USA, our deposits are never refunded by cruise lines. This is one anomily that always bugs UK cruisers as Americans, who always get prior knowledge of cruises, often book many cruises over the same date-range and when the time comes to pay the final payment they choose which cruise they actually want to go on! This means that all the best staterooms are already assigned and not available to Europeans to book - until they again become available 10 weeks before sail date.

 

It has been reported in the UK press that those actually on the Concordia when the disaster happened can expect to receive upwards of £100,000 each in compensation to stop any legal action against them. I would suggest that that sum is on the conservative side and figures of many millions would be awarded in court to the families of those that have died.

 

I suspect that Carnival will want any legal action to take place in Italy, but as Costa's parent company is an American Corporation, those thinking of taking private legal action would be wise to consider doing that in the American courts of justice or at least in the UK. The Carnival Corporation website clearly states that ...

 

"Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc operate under a dual listed company structure with primary stock listings in the United States and the United Kingdom. Accordingly, we have implemented a single corporate governance framework consistent, to the extent possible, with the governance practices and requirements of both countries. While there are customs or practices that differ between the two countries, we believe our corporate governance framework effectively addresses the corporate governance requirements of both the United States and the United Kingdom."

Furthermore....

 

"Our corporate governance principles are set forth in our Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters of our Board committees. The actions described in these documents -- which the Boards have reviewed and approved -- implement requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, the New York Stock Exchange listing requirements and, to the extent practicable, the Combined Code on Corporate Governance appended to the United Kingdom Listing Authority’s listing rules, as well our own vision of good governance. "

 

Thus the corporation operates under both the American and United Kingdom legal systems, depending on whether the cruise line is American, UK or European controlled. The website also clearly states that all the ships in the Carnival Corporation portfolio are wholly owned by the corporation. Here endeth all speculation on who owns the Costa ships!! Costa Crocier may indeed be an Italian incorporated company, but it's nautical assets are a different matter!

[Feelin' Nauti']

ITALIAN prosecutors are probing claims that rich Russian passengers on the Costa Concordia "bought" places in lifeboats ahead of women and children.

 

So it is just like the Titanic where the rich did the same thing...

It wouldn't surprise me. In this day and age.

People will do anything to save their lives.

I have read different things about this offer. First though the offer is a refund plus 30 per cent off future cruises, not just 30% off of future cruises. Second a travel agent friend thinks that offer was only made to those who had booked Concordia future sailings that are now canceled. That it was not for those on the doomed sailing. That would make a difference. Does anyone know if that is the case? Or was that offer also to those on the doomed sailing. We can't rely on the news media for the correct answer.

My understanding is that all passengers were given a full refund and a 30% discount on their future cruise.

 

As for passengers with future bookings, I can not say.

 

 

When the Crown Princess tilted, few years back, passengers were given a full refund and a FREE CRUISE.

 

If the 30% off the next cruise were for the survivors, I would take it as an insult.

 

I can tell from the domain that I don't even need to open the link - it'll be unfounded rubbish, with some salacious details and a bit of shock value. From reading the URL I suspect there were Russian mob bosses shoving wads of cash at people to be allowed passed the velvet rope into the special VIP lifeboats? Did any of them kick a puppy, or push a child out of the way while doing this?

.

I played at the casino tables with Jamaican drug lords and saw how freely they were with their cash.

So, it wouldn't put it passed me, what people will do with their money - especially when it comes to saving their own tails.

[astrocruises]

I find it hard to believe that Costa would encourage the “fly by” of Giglio as a marketing tool as the Captain has indicated during his interrogation. The island’s full time population is 1428 and reportedly swells to 5000 during the summer season and dropping to 900 during the winter months. There are reportedly 12 hotels on the island along with camping facilities and of course private vacation rentals. 5000 people viewing a cruise ship would hardly be a good value for marketing/advertising for the cruise line during peak times of the year let alone in the winter for 900 full time residents.

 

One of the stories in The Telegraph mentioned that The Bahamas hotel, where the captain went for a cup of coffee and to try to find dry socks, was the only hotel open now.

[EVALUATOR]

Ship captains are trained persons with known experience and credentials. Why would you trust more someone outside the ship than someone actually on board? (I really wouldn't).

 

After 9/11 there was talk of arming pilots in commercial airlines.

 

One of the arguments against it was how do we know if we can trust the pilots?

 

An argument for arming the pilot was, do they really need a gun if they want to hurt people?

 

The counter to that question was, no, but he might need a gun to keep

the copilot from stopping him. Think back to the Fedex incident a few years back.

 

The second in command on the ship probably doesn't need a gun, or a remote monitoring site, but he might need a large "stupid stick".

[HelloHelloHola]

But valujet was not an established brand with 40 years of brand equity. It was new. If it's a new brand - you change it. If it's an established brand, you repair it.

 

I agree. In addition, ValueJet was a low cost airline which contracted it's maintenance. The public perception was that it was an unsafe airline (rightly or wrongly) after the accident.

 

Having said that, I would reserve judgement until we find out how much Costa is at fault.

[Milaandra]

From reading the URL I suspect there were Russian mob bosses shoving wads of cash at people to be allowed passed the velvet rope into the special VIP lifeboats? Did any of them kick a puppy, or push a child out of the way while doing this?

 

It's actually kind of funny! It seems that a woman who lives on the island is a bit of a traditionalist...so she expected the first lifeboats to be full of women, children and injured people. Of course they weren't, and the first people she saw were Russians dressed up for dinner... :D:D

 

So, of course now there are eyewitnesses that there were "first class" passengers bribing their way onto the boats.

 

What's even more ironic, is that the first lifeboats were filled by Bosio and the other guys who have been hailed as heroes for not waiting for the abandon ship order, right? So ultimately, the same news agencies are now calling them corrupt...

 

If they don't check their facts, they should at least take the time to check what they've written previously! :D

[bobsig]

Ok the suspense is getting to me, I have to know what is your background. You dont appear to be listening to others so I would like to know what your field of expertise is -...

 

Its the fourth time of asking and the second poster to ask

 

rgds

:)

 

 

Me thinks he's an online gamer while cruising...with 40 cruises under his belt he has to be on one now.

[SarniaLo]

My understanding is that all passengers were given a full refund and a 30% discount on their future cruise.

 

As for passengers with future bookings' date=' I can not say. [/quote']

 

The full refund + 30% discount is for passengers with future bookings, not for the passengers of the wrecked Concordia.

This is for cruises in January, Feb and March. Starting March 24th, all of Concordia's planned cruises will be operated by Costa neoRomantica and Costa Magica :

http://www.costacruise.com/B2C/USA/Info/cambio_itinerari.htm

[Milaandra]

He is William Turner, son of Bootstrap Turner ...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Turner

 

And Legolas the elf...

 

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2779953664/nm0089217

[Milaandra]

Is he another modern pretty boy? I still prefer the rugged guys of yore: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, etc. even over the pretty boys of their era. LOL

 

The only one my husband would actually have to worry about is Antonio Bandaras...I love my husband but...I mean...c'mon!! :D

[Hebersgyll]

Especially on a cool night where there probably aren't alot of people outside. It would be more believeable if it were summer in the middle of the day or during a festival.

 

and the retired Costa Commodore supposedly being saluted wasn't even on the island, the passengers were either at dinner or watching the show, the islanders indoor and unaware of the pass (excepting the maitred's family)! Hmm.. so just who was supposed to be impressed by this skilful manouvre, Costa Concordia skimming in towards the shallows and then turning to run past at 15 knots? It couldn't by any chance be that Miss Moldovia again could it? By all accounts the Miss seems never to have been far from his side since leaving Cittavechia.... drinks, dinner, bridge companion & all?

Maybe her company proved a mite distracting?

[Milaandra]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/23/costa-concordia-captain-distracted-guests

 

I had read the testimony of Silvia as reported in an Italian paper, but I haven't see this before:

 

"The salute wasn't always done, but fairly often," said a second officer, Alberto Fiorito. "I am sure it had been done the last three times the ship sailed from Civitavecchia to Savona." The CEO of cruise company Costa Crociere has insisted that such salutes were rare.