Breaking news: Costa Concordia in deep problems!

[smoothscruiser]

Omg. My thoughts are with the family members of the eight people who died in this tragedy. Was well as everyone who was injured

[Atthew78]

Daytime video of the damage

[kornkitten]

Wow! It's almost hard to look at! It just breaks my heart. It's hard to think about in this day an age, that something like this could happen. My heart goes out to all of those people. I hope they find comfort and peace.

 

I went on the Fascination in 2009, and they required you to meet up at your muster station and put on your life jackets. I hope this has not changed. =/ Too many people screw around during these drills. I was getting irritated because the people that were next to us kept talking over the instructor about how this wasn't "fun" and it should be on the "fun ship". It was so distracting at one point I had to move in order to hear.

[2wallace]

Thoughts and prayers to all envolved..

 

Cudos to the people of this small island for taking in all of these people!

[pe4all]

OMG. I am sick to my stomach looking at the size of the gash. Prayers out to all and their families.

[SnowshoeCat]

That is a sickening sight. When I went to bed last night, the ship had been evacuated and was listing. I thought it was just sitting on the bottom. I never expected to wake up and find it had sunk! Just amazing. What a feeling for the captain to have to give the order to abandon ship.

 

As far as muster drills go. On my last cruise (RCI) we had to go to the muster stations and meet there, not in some lounge or indoor common area. Additionally, they're like fire drills. A real emergency is far from orderly. Families are scattered, people are drunk and/or panicked, lost and confused.

 

I wish everyone well.

[LEtue]

Wow, that video really brings the tragedy to life...doesn't it :(

[PCHENG]

I wonder if the ship can still be salvaged or repaired. Is it even possible to right a capsized ship of this size without cutting it up?

[Snowball]

This is so incredibly sad. It is hard to even understand how something like this could happen, and I feel terrible for the passengers involved who's feelings of excitement turned into fear and devastation. :(

[Topo Gigio]

I wonder if the ship can still be salvaged or repaired. Is it even possible to right a capsized ship of this size without cutting it up?

 

I was thinking the same. Guess the insurance company has to see if it's damaged beyond repair.

[Blurgh]

This is beyond unbelieveable. I think it might be pretty bad in the end because the boats are pretty anal about manifests. If they're not there, they're probably not there. And you wonder if that number even counts crew.

 

No earthly idea how that happened where it happened.

[Blurgh]

I was thinking the same. Guess the insurance company has to see if it's damaged beyond repair.

 

I would guess it's done.

[QLUVS2CRUZ]

I mostly cruise with Princess and we are ALWAYS told to put our vests on during the drill. I always take it seriously and I always try on my vest. This way you know for sure if any of the parts on the vest are broken so they can be replaced or fixed. Kathy

 

This is a good point...if the cruiseline doesn't make you wear the vest to the drill, at least get it out and try it on so you will be ready, in that slim chance you need it. I always check the closet to make sure mine is there, but I don't always try it on.

[Topo Gigio]

There were 3216 passengers and 1013 crew on the ship. The italian coast guard has counted 4179 so far, so there are 50 missing. They have already taken some of the bodies out of the water.

[futaba951]

Did you notice the size of the chunk of rock sticking out of the gash in the hull? Actually, it almost looks like a slab of concrete.

[toad455]

I would tend to think the ship is damaged beyond repair and will simply be cut up and sent to the salvage yard. Terrible news. What I find worse is that there's very little news about this being reported in the US. CNN did a 2 minute piece, maybe if it happened in the US we'd be hearing about it. If not for cruise critic, I would have never found out.

[RWolver672]

It's been on CNN all morning. They've talked with reporters on the scene and with some of the passengers.

[toad455]

Costa's website is currently N/A. I have to wonder if it's simply due to high demand.

[Cruise Cat]

I do listen to the muster drill and on RCI last time I specifically remember them saying to go directly to the muster station and life jackets would be provided to those that don't have them.

 

On RCCL, they told us that they have enough life jackets for everyone on the lifeboats. However, that assumes you make it into the lifeboat. I always liked the idea of having them in your room, stored in compartments up on deck, and having them in the lifeboat. There should be plenty of them everywhere!

[Cruise Cat]

It's been on CNN all morning. They've talked with reporters on the scene and with some of the passengers.

 

 

I was a bit irked by the report of the dancer and her discussion with her boyfriend who was an engineer on ship. If true, the Captain has some explaining to do.

[alys]

So sad....cruised aboard the Concordia 2009. Beautiful ship with a great crew. A tragedy!

Passengers embark and disembark at each port sometimes, therefore, some drills were not held for each new group...that will probably change. We had a wonderful time and I do like Costa. Prayers extended to all!

[H82seaUgo]

Daytime video of the damage

 

can't believe how crumpled up the hull is. at least one can see how a stabilizer looks extended in the video.

[JennLuvs2Cruise]

So sad! I can't even imagine the fear that the passengers and crew endured during this tragedy. I'm in disbelief that something like this could happen in this day & age, but I am sure an investigation will go underway soon & answers will be brought to the passengers & crew. People take muster drills for granted & think it could never happen to them.. Well this makes one think otherwise I'm sure.

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Early reports were an electrical fire. Odd. The Concordia is a sister ship to the Splendor.

The Splendor was supposed to be a Costa Concordia Class ship... that's why she's one of a kind.

If you recall, the Splendor had a major electrical fire a little over a year ago.

If there was a fire and fear of sinking one might understand that running the ship aground would be a reasonable thing to do...

 

I don't think there was a fire however one report I read said the ship was actually further out way offshore when it hit something. The captain turned the ship toward land knowing the closer it was to land more lives would be saved. Even if he was at fault for the incident, he surely saved some lives by getting closer to land.

[Topo Gigio]

My brother-in-law is the Senior Salvage Master for Titan Salvage and is flying to Italy now with a crew to try and save the ship. This is so sad. It's amazing to think that something like this could have happened in 2012. Thoughts and prayers go out to all the families involved.

 

My educated guess is that it will cost a few hundred millions usd to make it operational again IF they save the ship. The good thing is the ship is close to one of the Fincantieri shipyards where she was built.