Costa Concordia SINKING

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

Well said. I am glad that you and your family arrived home safely.

 

I agree with other posters that IF there had been a semblance of calm authority given by officers of the ship, communicated to the crew and through them to the passengers this tragedy may have had a different outcome altogether. Most people do not tend to panic when they have a sense of competent leadership.

 

I wonder if the tradition of cruise ship "fly byes" will now be suspended in Europe?

 

That's just it. When you're sitting in the dining room and you feel an incredible impact, then stuff starts flying, then the ship goes dark, then it begins to list...you are going to think the Captain is off his rocker if he tells you everything is fine and there is just a little electrical problem.

 

Honesty is best -- but you don't have to tell people EVERYthing. Tell them there is a problem, you are investigating, you will stay in touch, here's what you can/should do at the moment, etc. But whatever you do...don't out-and-out lie to people.

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

About all the reports of "Tourist Navigation" and "Tourist Routes," and whether it was it ordered or encouraged by Costa as the Captain claims. It all seems to come down to if it was announced on the ship so the passengers (tourists) could enjoy. Was it advertised on Giglio so the islanders could enjoy? (very few tourists there in the winter) I've read that it was not in either case. Just a few people knew so it could not be a Public Relations act. IMO

 

I honestly could care less if the Captain or the cruiseline wants to take a few minutes for scenic cruising. It's done all the time. It's fun to observe, whether you're a passenger watching the shore or a bystander watching the ship. I could also really care less if the Captain or the cruiseline gets close to shore, cause...let's face it, ships get close to shore all the time. (Sometimes they even dock! :D )

 

But, what I DO care about is a Captain who, for whatever reason, is barreling down on a rocky coast at 15 knots. That was the problem.

[Leadft]

Is the webcam working? Every time I look at it, it is dark there. Perhaps it's because day here is night there, but you'd think just once I could catch it during daylight hours!

[cls711]

I honestly could care less if the Captain or the cruiseline wants to take a few minutes for scenic cruising. It's done all the time. It's fun to observe, whether you're a passenger watching the shore or a bystander watching the ship. I could also really care less if the Captain or the cruiseline gets close to shore, cause...let's face it, ships get close to shore all the time. (Sometimes they even dock! :D )

 

But, what I DO care about is a Captain who, for whatever reason, is barreling down on a rocky coast at 15 knots. That was the problem.

 

Agreed on all points. But what I was pointing out in my post was, how could it be for the benefit of the "tourists" if no "tourists" were told it was happening?

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

Agreed on all points. But what I was pointing out in my post was, how could it be for the benefit of the "tourists" if no "tourists" were told it was happening?

 

I think some tourists were told.....

 

I have no idea what the thinking was here. Whatever it was, it apparently wasn't "Let's get to Savona safely."

[SomeBeach]

Is the webcam working? Every time I look at it, it is dark there. Perhaps it's because day here is night there, but you'd think just once I could catch it during daylight hours!

 

You are in CA so you would have a nine hour time difference. Maybe if you checked between 9 p.m. and midnight your time, you'll catch it.

[Davyjonesrugrat]

Or worse. Like say you can't bring your own because they sell them in the gift shops.

Something new to smuggle onboard.....ooops shhhh.....better watch out for the 'Smuggling police' lol

 

rgds

:D

[Tiki_Man]

I have not read this entire thread, so maybe it was mentioned, but I have not seen any Video of the Concordia from the Island as it did the actual "Fly-By" (I have watched the one from last August). Now maybe the lights had already gone out but according to the timeline and other accounts, the ship did not go "dark" until a couple of minutes after the collision. Well that would put it right in front of the port. Surely someone on that island/port was watching (hence the purpose of the Fly-By), and to suddenly see a Bright Cruise Ship go completely dark would have been somewhat strange. I am surprised there were not more emergency calls to the Harbor Master.

[Smurfette&Trojan]

You are in CA so you would have a nine hour time difference. Maybe if you checked between 9 p.m. and midnight your time, you'll catch it.

 

My in-laws live in Orvieto and always call at midnight or 1 AM.

For Christmas I sent them a watch that was set to PST. :rolleyes:

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

I have not read this entire thread, so maybe it was mentioned, but I have not seen any Video of the Concordia from the Island as it did the actual "Fly-By" (I have watched the one from last August). Now maybe the lights had already gone out but according to the timeline and other accounts, the ship did not go "dark" until a couple of minutes after the collision. Well that would put it right in front of the port. Surely someone on that island/port was watching (hence the purpose of the Fly-By), and to suddenly see a Bright Cruise Ship go completely dark would have been somewhat strange. I am surprised there were not more emergency calls to the Harbor Master.

 

I had sort of the same question from the opposite perspective. Wasn't somebody standing on the open decks or balcony (videoing?) and wondering why in the world the the ship was sailing directly towards the island at such a high rate of speed.

 

Perhaps there were calls or alarms raised on both sides, and we just aren't yet privy to them.

[WAPilot]

Thanks for the links. On the CSMART website, it is stated that it is owned by Carnival Corp. I wonder if all deck officers under all the Canival Corp. brands received training (especially BRM and BTM) from CSMART.

 

That is my understanding, especially in light of this quote from a recent article:

 

"All bridge officers in service in the Carnival fleet are obliged to attend regular five-day courses. When I was there, uniformed captains, first officers and staff captains from Costa Cruises (the line currently making headlines), Carnival UK and Holland America Line were on site."

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/9026969/Costa-Concordia-bridge-officer-training-is-a-rigorous-business.html

 

Prior to this & according to this link dated 2009 http://www.enteradar.it/en/news/index.php?id=17 , the courses were conducted by 'Instituto G Marconi'.

[Davyjonesrugrat]

Is the webcam working? Every time I look at it, it is dark there. Perhaps it's because day here is night there, but you'd think just once I could catch it during daylight hours!

You are going to have to stay up past your bed time......dont get caught though.

 

rgds

:)

[Tiki_Man]

Well the incident did happen right in the middle of second dining and the middle of a show, so in theory, a large majority of the people would be inside (and then also in the casino), but yes, anyone standing along the rail on the port side certainly would have seen the shore approaching very very fast (if there were lights and such on that rocky part of the island).

 

I would also venture to guess that there will be some sort of Light/Beacon on that rocky area in the very near future.

[shipfriend_max]

I think temporary there's a little lack of news concerning the pumping out and salvaging process... :(

[Hebersgyll]

I have not read this entire thread, so maybe it was mentioned, but I have not seen any Video of the Concordia from the Island as it did the actual "Fly-By" (I have watched the one from last August). Now maybe the lights had already gone out but according to the timeline and other accounts, the ship did not go "dark" until a couple of minutes after the collision. Well that would put it right in front of the port. Surely someone on that island/port was watching (hence the purpose of the Fly-By), and to suddenly see a Bright Cruise Ship go completely dark would have been somewhat strange. I am surprised there were not more emergency calls to the Harbor Master.

 

Acccording to the der Spiegel article a couple of guys ashore did hear what sounded like a roll of thunder and then felt a vibration that nearly shook them out of their chairs. I usually have early dining and don't go to shows much. I like fresh air & seeing scenery, so I guess if I had bought a ticket I might well have been on deck as the ship raced inland.

 

If I'm on a train or subway I might have pulled the emergency cord or lever. I don't think ships have them!! ..... and, as Schettino found to his cost, it would have been too late by then anyway. Ships take a long time to turn.

[Cuizer2]

I didn't answer the question because I thought it was so obvious and that it might have been a rhetorical question. By the way, our government in Queensland doesn't insure any of its vehicles or buildings.

 

My post about Carnival not insuring for loss of income was because someone had misunderstood the comment from Carnival about insurance.

 

You got it right. My answer was simple and to the point, though I am sure Canadian Karebear will find something wrong with my answer.

[Cuizer2]

Is there really a need to look for more bodies? They must be all dead. :(

 

Perhaps you should ask the families of the missing that question.

[Cuizer2]

Query: How many cruisers are now taking inflatable liferafts in their luggage to have on hand if an emergency happens and the life boats will not suffice for some reason.

 

I am seeing and hearing more and more passengers that are talking about buying their own life raft, kind of what you can buy for a swimming pool, as why just be swimming in the sea?

 

You blow these up and then use them if need be to float on them.

 

Anybody think this is okay to do to bring along now or just forget about it and don't prepare for the worse case scenario?

 

You want to know what I think of a $25 piece of plastic that is designed for pool use to use as a life raft in the open ocean. ---> :eek: :D :eek: :D :eek: :D

[King of Cool]

Cls711 said - About all the reports of "Tourist Navigation" and "Tourist Routes," and whether it was it ordered or encouraged by Costa as the Captain claims. It all seems to come down to if it was announced on the ship so the passengers (tourists) could enjoy. Was it advertised on Giglio so the islanders could enjoy? (very few tourists there in the winter) I've read that it was not in either case. Just a few people knew so it could not be a Public Relations act. IMO

Schettino’s case for precedence was always going to be weak one. But it is all that his lawyer has to go on.

 

It defeats his argument somewhat if it was not announced to the passengers which would make it more like the personal whim or crew favour which it probably was.

 

I have not read a report anywhere to say that it was announced to the passengers. But I have read a report that Schettino said the sail past Giglio was in the ship’s daily newsletter.

 

Don’t know how this could be verified as it seems to me that it would be hard to get a copy - if they were ever printed.

[Hebersgyll]

You want to know what I think of a $25 piece of plastic that is designed for pool use to use as a life raft in the open ocean. ---> :eek: :D :eek: :D :eek: :D

 

I agree. I wouldn't spend all that & then throw it in the ocean!

[Cuizer2]

By definition, that is always the case. In total, insurance companies collect more in premiums than they pay in claims for any particular coverage. Insurance companies distribute the risk of catastrophic financial costs among all its clients. If a company has the financial wherewithal to cover its own potential losses for certain coverage, then statistically, it is cheaper for them to do so.

 

jc

 

When one buys insurance one is trading a potentially large unknown loss (something bad happens) for a small known loss (the premium). For individules and small businesses this makes sense as you never know what will happen or when.

 

However, for large corporations with such a big exposure that they are no longer dealing with a large unknown loss, but rather a predictable amount of losses over a period of time, insurance does not make sense for the reasons you point out.

 

In other words, a person who owns one or two cars and drives 15,000 miles per year might not have any accidents in ten years, might have a couple of small accidents or one very big one. Who knows?

 

But a large corporation with a fleet of vehicles (or ships) can look back on the last ten years and figure that unless something changes, the next ten years will be similar. If the company has the funds to cover itself if a big loss happens tomorrow, then it is less expensive to self insure.

 

Even companies that "self-insure" might carry insurance for the really big losses. As noted earlier, Carnival has insurance for liability claims exceeding $10,000,000 and hull damage exceeding $30,000,000 (which it will in this case).

[Britchic4]

The Daily Mail (I know!) has just put up pics of the lifeboats leaving some time after the crash. If you look at the comments at the bottom, i'm pretty sure Paul Rodford from Rochester (Medway towns) was one of the passengers. I wonder if that is the Captain's lifeboat?!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2091752/Costa-Concordia-pictures-lifeboats-fleeing-like-scene-Titanic.html

[SarniaLo]

You want to know what I think of a $25 piece of plastic that is designed for pool use to use as a life raft in the open ocean. ---> :eek: :D :eek: :D :eek:

Indeed. Might as well jump directly in the ocean (which is also NOT a good idea, most of the time).

I can't believe that some people are seriously contempling that :eek:

[Rancher Dave]

This one is better, you even get the 'Dolly bird' too lol

 

rgds

:D

 

Now that is one old picture....loved that movie...it was long before I could drive though...I started flying before I could drive...but never did I bring that kind of autopilot.

[HelloHelloHola]

That is my understanding, especially in light of this quote from a recent article:

 

"All bridge officers in service in the Carnival fleet are obliged to attend regular five-day courses. When I was there, uniformed captains, first officers and staff captains from Costa Cruises (the line currently making headlines), Carnival UK and Holland America Line were on site."

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/9026969/Costa-Concordia-bridge-officer-training-is-a-rigorous-business.html

 

Prior to this & according to this link dated 2009 http://www.enteradar.it/en/news/index.php?id=17 , the courses were conducted by 'Instituto G Marconi'.

 

Thanks again for the links. So, it appears that Costa deck officers received CSMART trainings which includes BTM. It should be interesting to see whether is was practiced on that fateful trip. Or rather, how much was not practiced.