Costa Concordia SINKING

[Aus Traveller]

I'm sorry but I can't see how one person can operate a lifeboat and then get onto a rope ladder, it seems a little difficult. Having driven a 32ft boat, I know how to manouver a boat of that size, but then how did he jump onto the ladder? Did he just leave the lifeboat floating or did he tie it up?

Why do you imagine he actually drove the boat? From what we have seen and heard, there were rope ladders hanging down the side of the ship.

[Milaandra]

Michelle, if you see this...can I ask you a question? Did you, and the other passengers, know that you were in shallow waters? Did anyone tell you?

[Rancher Dave]

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'd gladly take that over nothing, but would prefer first the hard lifeboat and second one of the rubber rafts in the big white pods located on the deck forward and aft of most of the other lifeboats.

 

What I don't recall is if the liferafts are hydrostatically hooked on where they would release and self launch if the ship sinks quickly. On the boats I worked on they had the hydrostatic release.

[Feelin' Nauti']

Not sure how true this statement is...being it was taken from a news article...

 

 

Captain tells his friend. ... "I'm proud of the fact that we saved almost all (the passengers). ... I went around picking up people at sea and I'm at peace."

Schettino also tells the friend, "I don't ever want to go back on ship."

[Cuizer2]

I'd gladly take that over nothing, but would prefer first the hard lifeboat and second one of the rubber rafts in the big white pods located on the deck forward and aft of most of the other lifeboats.

 

What I don't recall is if the liferafts are hydrostatically hooked on where they would release and self launch if the ship sinks quickly. On the boats I worked on they had the hydrostatic release.

 

I don't know if you can tell from this (Voyager of the Seas) ...

 

[Milaandra]

Why do you imagine he actually drove the boat? From what we have seen and heard, there were rope ladders hanging down the side of the ship.

 

There is a slight difference between the current story and the telephone interview. Did you listen to that one? http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outlook

 

The deputy mayor said that he took the lifeboat all by himself, or at least that's what the interpretor said. Later, he said the young officer was the one who found the "small stairs" that they put down the boat to get into the "dingies."

 

He said he took the first "tender" that arrived at the island, which others have reported to arrive at 11:15. Those passengers would have to disembark first, and I'm not sure how long the trip was from the island to the ship, but let's assume something like 11:30. I believe lifeboats were still being launched at that time, so the rope ladder wouldn't be there. (speculation)

 

However, the most current story is that he went back with Rossi, another man from Giglio.

 

Like everything else, it's confusing. If I were to guess, maybe in the excitement of the event and the excitement of the interview, he just mispoke? When nervous, I know I sometimes do a form of spoonerism. Plus we have the whole translation thing which confuses matters more.

[moniquet]

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.

 

I wonder if all this stuff about sailing close to the Island for a salute is a smokescreen. Why would they do that on a cold dark winters night. People were having dinner, in the theatre etc at that hour. I would think the decks would be almost deserted and probably the Islanders too would have been indoors.Nothing exceptional about passing an Island on a cruise, happens all the time...why make a big thing of it!

 

Only time will tell but perhaps the new route could have been a fuel saver, or just gross negligence by the Captain.

[Feelin' Nauti']

The prosecutor general says: “Magistrates seek cause and effect links for events. Up till now, attention has focused on the negligence of the captain, who was tragically inadequate. But who selects the captain? Decisions made upstream by his employer, the shipping company, need to be scrutinised. There is also the fundamental issue of safety organisation – lifeboats that could not be lowered, crew with no idea of what to do, poor emergency management training and incompetent orders like the absurd instruction to return to the cabins. The confusion shows incredible negligence in applying safety regulations. This is an area that should be organised in advance with exercises and simulations. Actual emergency management comes later”

 

 

http://www.corriere.it/english/12_gennaio_24/costa-concordia_c0f1d44e-4692-11e1-90ee-63dee1b6b376.shtml

[PizzaJohn 7]

URL]http://www.corriere.it/english/12_gennaio_24/costa-concordia_c0f1d44e-4692-11e1-90ee-63dee1b6b376.shtml[/url]

 

Another sentence says "The gist is clear. Captain Schettino will supply further details to prove that his decisions were approved by Costa executives, which will inevitably involve them in the investigation."

 

Are Italian court proceedings televised?

[Uniall]

The prosecutor general says: “Magistrates seek cause and effect links for events. Up till now' date=' attention has focused on the negligence of the captain, who was tragically inadequate. But who selects the captain? Decisions made upstream by his employer, the shipping company, need to be scrutinised. There is also the fundamental issue of safety organisation – lifeboats that could not be lowered, crew with no idea of what to do, poor emergency management training and incompetent orders like the absurd instruction to return to the cabins. The confusion shows incredible negligence in applying safety regulations. This is an area that should be organised in advance with exercises and simulations. Actual emergency management comes later”

 

 

http://www.corriere.it/english/12_gennaio_24/costa-concordia_c0f1d44e-4692-11e1-90ee-63dee1b6b376.shtml[/quote']

 

"Now, That's What I'm Talkin About"..........Yes!!!

 

The chain of gross negligence and/or gross indiference goes uphill.

[BalconyBumz]

"Now, That's What I'm Talkin About"..........Yes!!!

 

The chain of gross negligence and/or gross indiference goes uphill.

 

Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to agree on this one. Captain needs to pay and uphill is gonna need to pay. I would like to blame only the Captain, but I believe there are more things to it in this particular situation.

[NancyJewel92]

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

 

Thanks for posting this link. I wish these photos were published with date and time stamps.

[Uniall]

We may be able to enjoy a fabulous dinner prepared and served by Costa Evil Doers if they're convicted and sent to the Tuscan prison nearest to the Isle of Giglio: Voltera, Tuscany, Italia.

 

 

Eat at the gourmet restaurant inside the prison. So, the maximum-security prison has a restaurant - a good one. Pros: You can see the castle-prison from the inside, the food is allegedly very good, reasonably priced, and it's a unique experience. Cons (so to speak): You need at least 2 months' notice to get a reservation, and that's after checking that the restaurant is actually going to be serving. You'll also go through a background check, and your place setting will be, not surprisingly, paper plates and plastic cutlery. Contact ufficioturistico@volterratur.it to ask about serving days and reservations.

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

[Aus Traveller]

There is a slight difference between the current story and the telephone interview. Did you listen to that one? http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/outlook

 

The deputy mayor said that he took the lifeboat all by himself, or at least that's what the interpretor said. Later, he said the young officer was the one who found the "small stairs" that they put down the boat to get into the "dingies."

 

He said he took the first "tender" that arrived at the island, which others have reported to arrive at 11:15. Those passengers would have to disembark first, and I'm not sure how long the trip was from the island to the ship, but let's assume something like 11:30. I believe lifeboats were still being launched at that time, so the rope ladder wouldn't be there. (speculation)

 

However, the most current story is that he went back with Rossi, another man from Giglio.

 

Like everything else, it's confusing. If I were to guess, maybe in the excitement of the event and the excitement of the interview, he just mispoke? When nervous, I know I sometimes do a form of spoonerism. Plus we have the whole translation thing which confuses matters more.

Yes, I listened to that interview. The Deputy Mayor said he took the first tender back to the ship and when was asked if there was anyone with him, he said "no", but he didn't say he personally drove the tender. I am suggesting that if I say that I went on my own in a taxi it doesn't mean I drove it. More will be revealed as time goes by, but I think it is highly likely that the member of the ship's crew who drove the lifeboat from the ship to the shore, stayed at the controls and took the Deputy Mayor back to the ship. I don't think he would do that himself when he intended to board the Costa Concordia and is he was the only person on the lifeboat it would mean abandoning it. On another occasion it was stated that when they took the lifeboat back to the ship they loaded 40 people into it.

[greg-nc]

Yes, I listened to that interview. The Deputy Mayor said he took the first tender back to the ship and when was asked if there was anyone with him, he said "no", but he didn't say he personally drove the tender. I am suggesting that if I say that I went on my own in a taxi it doesn't mean I drove it. More will be revealed as time goes by, but I think it is highly likely that the member of the ship's crew who drove the lifeboat from the ship to the shore, stayed at the controls and took the Deputy Mayor back to the ship. I don't think he would do that himself when he intended to board the Costa Concordia and is he was the only person on the lifeboat it would mean abandoning it. On another occasion it was stated that when they took the lifeboat back to the ship they loaded 40 people into it.

 

I believe the most complete and proper description of Pellegrini's actions are given in the Spiegel article.

 

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,810761-3,00.html

 

Giovanni Rossi, the man who had been looking forward to thunderstorms when the Concordia went aground, was standing on the pier, staring incredulously at the wreck. He and Pellegrini, the deputy mayor, jumped into the first lifeboat that arrived. The name, "Concordia 1," was painted on the bow. It was a white boat with a yellow superstructure.

 

Two kitchen helpers from the cruise ship were steering the lifeboat. They are among the low-wage workers from developing countries that cruise ship guests rarely see, because they are supposed to remain as invisible as possible while they do their jobs.

 

Of course, the two kitchen helpers had never steered a boat in their lives, which Pellegrini recognized immediately. He took the tiller and, together with Rossi and the kitchen helpers, drove the boat back out to the wreck. When they reached the Concordia after a few minutes, Pellegrini moored the boat to ropes dangling from the side of the ship. People were gathering above, getting into the boats.

 

Pellegrini and his friend Rossi escorted their first 40 passengers to the safety of the harbor, where half of the island's residents had already gathered. The women brought hot tea in thermos bottles, and the men brought warm blankets.

[Rancher Dave]

I don't know if you can tell from this (Voyager of the Seas) ...

 

 

AH, my ship...I've tried to recall...hard to see in the picture here. The bars over the capsules definitely are aimed as if they are set where they could float away and inflate.

 

I know how to launch one if I ever had to do so on my own...it is a good thing to know if the captain checks out early.

[Milaandra]

I am suggesting that if I say that I went on my own in a taxi it doesn't mean I drove it.

 

That makes sense. I misunderstood the original question. :o

[Hebersgyll]

I've always prided myself on being a very rational person. The laws of physics are quite sufficient for me. So, I scorn superstitition, happily walk under ladders, ignore Mystic Megs, deride people taken in by spiritual mediums, don't believe in ghosts, the supernatural, any of that kind of cr**p.

 

BUT, ......perhaps I'm wrong?

 

It's a fact that the Costa Concorda was launched by the Chzech supermodel, Erza Herzegova. Now then, remind me. I've forgotten. What were Erza's qualifications for launching a ship??

 

Uh, uh... it starting to come back to me. They were a 40G chest, or something like that, an infamous association with the phrase, 'Hello Boys!' and her prominence as the patron saint of car body shops, due to all the car accidents caused by drivers distracted by the sight of her bosom on advertising hoardings around the world as they drove by. (I think a statistical anaylsis of the crashed drivers will show that a large majority of them were male.)

 

And, again, a fact... the champagne bottle remained intact when the moment of launch occurred and the bottle was dashed against the side of the ship.

 

So,... here we have a ship apparently dedicated to the values of femiine guile and male infatuation with a certain part of the female anatomy.

 

Then, placed in charge of this ship is a skilled captain variously described as a quintiessential Italian lothario,or a gigilo, certainly as someone who was readily distracted by the presence of an attractive lady.

 

Then we have the presence onboard of a young lady many desribe as being attractive, or, dressed in an attractive way..... and many reports that the captain may have been affected by, or distracted by the presence of this Miss Moldovia, or, who knows, one of her companions.

 

Then, some incredible 'human error' ocurs and the captain drives his ship aground on an island that sound just like gigilo. An immense human tragedy occcurs.

 

And, as all mariners know, and certainly, as all shipbuilders fear, the failure of the champagne bottle to break at a launch has immense 'supernatural' significance as a portent of 'doom' for the ship. Enormous efforts are usually made at launches to ensure that the bottle does break.

 

Could anyone really have written a script like this? (And, by the way, Milaandra, no, I'm not blaming Eva, or Miss Moldovia,... the captain is appointed and paid to steeer the ship, be professional, adhere to all maritime regulations, arrive at the next port, safeguard the crew and passengers... and the ship in his trust!)

 

So, here am I, wondering whether my unshakeable belief in rationaality and the universal physical laws of the universe might need to be re-evaluated in the light of this all-important 'Law of Distraction'?

 

And thinking, too, that it was understandable for the Almighty to spook the champagne bottle so it wouldn't break (as a token of disapproval at the choice of Miss Herzevoga to launch the ship) but maybe it was going over the top a bit to let Schettino be so distracted he would run the ship aground aground causing all that loss of life.

 

Of course, its all speculation... nothing more. The facts will emerge eventually. But I defend speculation. Its a basic human instict to enquire into the reason for things that happen.

 

One thing for sure. Before I take my next cruise I'll check on who launched the ship...and if it wasn't someone like Mother Theresa, I'm not going!

[Feelin' Nauti']

Fabiola Russo, the wife of Captain Francesco Schettino, spoke out in a cover story in Oggi, an Italian weekly magazine

 

http://gma.yahoo.com/wife-italian-cruise-captain-calls-treatment-husband-shameful-091552612--abc-news.html

 

 

http://www.oggi.it/focus/cronaca/2012/01/24/esclusivo-parla-la-moglie-di-schettino-mio-marito-non-e-un-mostro/

[Ozcruiser1]

OZ, the maitr'd has done a wonderful job getting the table arrangements just right. Now that our table guests have been seated at the assigned table we settle in for nice evening and have a look at the menu.

Just as we are making small talk with our table companions, the captain, followed closely by Domnica, does a fly by of the dining room and notices a number of women at our table wearing black sleeveless dresses. This immediately attracts his attention, he drops anchor asks if he could join us. He rearranges the deck chairs on the Titan….. pulls up another chair at the table and asks for a table setting and some silverware. Uniall asks the captain if he wants a dish on the side, with that Domnica takes offence, she leaves and goes to join the Russian table, which is the best table in the house …(those darn Russkies ).

The captains informs us that tonight there will be three courses, silly me I thought he meant appetizers, main, and desert…..He apparently meant the course the he should have taken, the course the company wanted him to take , and finally the course he selected. As it turns out the course he selected included “rocky road”.

 

Deckofficer orders 3 courses of humble pie, Evil Jeremy ties to force feed the pie into him, but Deckofficer is unwilling to eat any of it.

Charles thought the captain was missing a knife so he checked with headoffice, who have been monitoring all of this, they advised him to offer his silverware to the captain and he was now missing a knife, Daveyjonesrugrat offers Charlie a spare knife that he keeps in his sporran but rather than passing it to him he uses it to stab him in the back.

Joanie is very distressed by all of this and tries to coordinate a peace treaty.

 

Gentlemancruiser arrives a little late as he was doing a bridge tour, a few of the other gentleman were late as they were doing a tour of the show lounge and were distracted by the dancers.( some were a real knockout)

In the background we hear an Italian baritone with a massive voice , I thought it must be the from the early show, but that act disappeared (magician’s joke) but no, it’s the Coast Guard Captain warming up for his duet that was to come later in the production.

 

The captain orders a steak, the waiter asks him how he would like it done, most but not all say in unison that he should be burnt by it. The waiter asks if he would like a sauce….Milaandra picks up on this and orders every source..Sarnalo is too slow in translating this for the waiter and he brings back tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, mint sauce, Worcestershire Sauce … Milaandra then reads every label on every bottle in great detail, and suggest to the other table guests what they might like to digest.

 

Then there was a bump in the night… the captain heads off to see what Domnica is up to… it appears that she and the Russians have already headed off to the life boats with a handful of cash.

 

There is now a great deal of confusion in the dining room, some start blowing up their own pool rafts, some, to the disgust of others, dolls. Some remain calm, some go up to the buffet ( as its only their first night of their first cruise and they are going to eat the total cost of the cruise in one go). All the galley staff are wanting to serve the meals but are waiting for instructions, the chief officers appear to be unwilling or unable to tell then when to start. This is a mess….we anticipated a wonderful meal, now all we’re served is upside down cake.:(

[Milaandra]

OZ, the maitr'd has done a wonderful job getting the table arrangements just right.

 

Don't forget the special of the day...Hungarian Gulag.

 

We'll have to meet on Cunard so we can invite Hebersgyll. The QM2 is, I think, the only cruise ship with kennels?

[judybee]

OZ, the maitr'd has done a wonderful job getting the table arrangements just right. Now that our table guests have been seated at the assigned table we settle in for nice evening and have a look at the menu.

Just as we are making small talk with our table companions, the captain, followed closely by Domnica, does a fly by of the dining room and notices a number of women at our table wearing black sleeveless dresses. This immediately attracts his attention, he drops anchor asks if he could join us. He rearranges the deck chairs on the Titan….. pulls up another chair at the table and asks for a table setting and some silverware. Uniall asks the captain if he wants a dish on the side, with that Domnica takes offence, she leaves and goes to join the Russian table, which is the best table in the house …(those darn Russkies ).

The captains informs us that tonight there will be three courses, silly me I thought he meant appetizers, main, and desert…..He apparently meant the course the he should have taken, the course the company wanted him to take , and finally the course he selected. As it turns out the course he selected included “rocky road”.

 

Deckofficer orders 3 courses of humble pie, Evil Jeremy ties to force feed the pie into him, but Deckofficer is unwilling to eat any of it.

Charles thought the captain was missing a knife so he checked with headoffice, who have been monitoring all of this, they advised him to offer his silverware to the captain and he was now missing a knife, Daveyjonesrugrat offers Charlie a spare knife that he keeps in his sporran but rather than passing it to him he uses it to stab him in the back.

Joanie is very distressed by all of this and tries to coordinate a peace treaty.

 

Gentlemancruiser arrives a little late as he was doing a bridge tour, a few of the other gentleman were late as they were doing a tour of the show lounge and were distracted by the dancers.( some were a real knockout)

In the background we hear an Italian baritone with a massive voice , I thought it must be the from the early show, but that act disappeared (magician’s joke) but no, it’s the Coast Guard Captain warming up for his duet that was to come later in the production.

 

The captain orders a steak, the waiter asks him how he would like it done, most but not all say in unison that he should be burnt by it. The waiter asks if he would like a sauce….Milaandra picks up on this and orders every source..Sarnalo is too slow in translating this for the waiter and he brings back tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, mint sauce, Worcestershire Sauce … Milaandra then reads every label on every bottle in great detail, and suggest to the other table guests what they might like to digest.

 

Then there was a bump in the night… the captain heads off to see what Domnica is up to… it appears that she and the Russians have already headed off to the life boats with a handful of cash.

 

There is now a great deal of confusion in the dining room, some start blowing up their own pool rafts, some, to the disgust of others, dolls. Some remain calm, some go up to the buffet ( as its only their first night of their first cruise and they are going to eat the total cost of the cruise in one go). All the galley staff are wanting to serve the meals but are waiting for instructions, the chief officers appear to be unwilling or unable to tell then when to start. This is a mess….we anticipated a wonderful meal, now all we’re served is upside down cake.:(

 

Thanks for a much needed laugh! :D

[tcocktail]

To cut out the insurance broker and insurance company. They act as their own insurance company. In effect saying they can absorb the loss of earnings themselves and pocket the equivalent of what the insurance premiums would be.

 

(You are "self-insuring" for the DEDUCTIBLE on your car or home insurance.)

 

The CONCORDIA only represented 1.5% of Carnival Corp's revenues.

 

 

I didn't understand that the Concordia represented such a small piece. I live in a resort community owned by a fortune 500 and they were self insurance. THat was my only experience. The company was sold and thed learned they could of lost everything. But the issue with Costa and Carnival corp is totally different. What a mess for all involved.

[Aus Traveller]

I didn't understand that the Concordia represented such a small piece. I live in a resort community owned by a fortune 500 and they were self insurance. THat was my only experience. The company was sold and thed learned they could of lost everything. But the issue with Costa and Carnival corp is totally different. What a mess for all involved.

The previous post showed that Costa Concordia represented only 1.5% of Carnival Corp's revenue. That would seem reasonable when they have over 100 ships.:)

[TheBestIsYetToCome]

Fabiola Russo' date=' the wife of Captain Francesco Schettino, spoke out in a cover story in Oggi, an Italian weekly magazine

 

http://gma.yahoo.com/wife-italian-cruise-captain-calls-treatment-husband-shameful-091552612--abc-news.html

 

 

http://www.oggi.it/focus/cronaca/2012/01/24/esclusivo-parla-la-moglie-di-schettino-mio-marito-non-e-un-mostro/[/quote']

 

What a strange thing to say:

 

"Our shared passion is canoeing -- to paddle together you have to be in symphony, which is what Francesco and I are," she said. "But we got fined once, because we took a little motorboat too close to the coast."

 

:eek: :confused: :eek: