Costa Concordia sinks off the coast of Italy

Interesting PR video from Costa Cruises:

Costa Concordia - The Shipwreck Removal Project - YouTube

That is absolutely amazing. I'm glad I'm not the one on the hook funding the project!

Why is that a laughing matter? Are you 13 years old?

Captain wants his job back

From ********.

Captain Schettino Thinks He Should Get His Job Back | ******** - Maritime & Offshore News

"Captain Francesco Schettino has some b*lls… that is if you don’t count the night he allegedly abandoned ship after running the Costa Concordia aground.

Italian media reported Wednesday that Schettino, captain of the infamous Costa Concordia, has sued the ship’s owner, Costa Crociere, over his dismissal and has demanded he get his job back WITH back pay.

In the suit, Schettino argues that although he was in charge when the ship ran aground during the risky “saluting” maneuver, he actually saved many lives when he decided to steer the Costa Concordia closer to land, where it still rests today. Schettino says that many more lives would have been lost on the night of January 13 had he not made the decision to maneuver the sinking vessel back to Giglio, and for that he should not have been fired.

Italian media actually reported today that Schettino was in fact fired from Costa Crociere back in July, confirming what most people already expected, or at least hoped.

“Costa Crociere confirms that it has concluded the disciplinary procedure against Schettino following the Costa Concordia shipwreck, ordering his dismissal,” the company told the Italian media.

Schettino is currently under house arrest and is awaiting a decision expected next week that will determine whether or not he will go to trial on charges of abandoning ship, manslaughter, and failing to communicate with maritime authorities.

32 of the more than 4,200 people on board the Costa Concordia died in the incident."

Scettino's defense is like the guy who performs CPR on The victim he just shot. His attorney should gag him for his own sake..

I thought she lost power a couple of miles offshore and the current or wind blew her where she came to rest. I don't think the captain had much to do with it. Pretty brazen to expect his job after losing that many lives.

If you meant to reference Vinnie Jones CPR then, honestly, separate joke from content

On a more relevant note, the pre-hearing on Captain Francesco Schettino was held yesterday: Survivors, captain hear Italian shipwreck evidence - NewsTimes

They had to occupy a theater for a closed (!) hearing! Wonder if they are experimenting on the kind of chain reaction you could get outta critical mass of lawyers.

Hi,

Fish, The venerable "cement box" has been used aboard ships for years I guess this is an external one.

From ********

Costa Concordia Investigators: “Hand of God” Steered the Ship to Shallow Waters, Not Schettino | ******** - Maritime & Offshore News

"In a pre-trial hearing that will decide whether or not Captain Francesco Schettino will face trial over the January sinking of the Costa Concordia, prosectors argue that only “the hand of God” steered the stricken ship back to Giglio, not Schettino.

“It was the hand of God that drew the Costa Concordia towards Giglio island after the collision with the rocks at Giglio, not Capt Schettino’s manoeuvre,” said prosecutor Francesco Verusio.

Schettino, who is accused of causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship, maintains that his actions following the initial grounding of the Costa Concordia on the rocks of Giglio following a risky “saluting” maneuver saved many lives.

Prosecutors, and really the public at large, think different. Prosecutors contend that if not for momentum and a prevailing wind the ship would have sank fast in deeper water with all 4,200 people on board.

“If there was no wind that night, the ship would have capsized and sunk in a minute,” Verusio said in the hearing.

Captain Schettino and eight others are under investigation in connection to the January 13th sinking, including three shoreside executives from Costa Crociere, the ship’s operator.

The pre-trial hearing, now in its final phase, will decided whether Captain Schettino will face criminal charges that could include multiple counts of manslaughter, abandoning ship, and failing to communicate with maritime authorities."


New barge on station this morning:-

http://www.giglionews.it/2010022440919/webcam/isola-del-giglio/webcam-giglio-porto-panoramica.html

US Coast Guard join investigation

From gCaptian

US Coast Guard Joins Costa Concordia Investigation | ******** - Maritime & Offshore News

"The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday said that it will be part of the Italian-led investigation into the fatal grounding of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy which left 32 people dead, including two Americans.

The USCG says it will be joined by the National Transportation Safety Board in the investigation into the January 13th grounding and partial sinking. Evidence, timeline, analysis, conclusions, recommendations and a draft report are expected to be formalized over the next few months as part the investigation.

The Coast Guard and NTSB participation in the marine casualty investigation is consistent with international marine casualty investigation practices and with Coast Guard statutory authority in 46 U.S.C. 6101(g) and 6301. The USCG routinely participates in marine casualty investigations, including those taking place internationally, and says it places the highest priority on domestic and foreign passenger vessel safety especially for those that embark U.S. passengers in the United States and world-wide."

Maybe this will lead to more information becoming available?

FRANCE. Costa Pacifica is in trouble in the Port of Marseille after hitting a dock at 8:15 am Tuesday, December 11, 2012.
According to our information, the ship of the Italian company Costa Cruises has been damaged above the waterline which would prevent it from sinking. The gap of nearly 8 meters long remains very important.

According to a passenger, interviewed by former Marine pilot econostrum.info the boat docked at the rear and the maneuver was quite normal. The passengers did not feel any particular shock.

The ship would hit the dolphin (allowing the docking of boats longer) then he would dock at position 181.

Baptized in June 2009 out of Genoa and Sestri Ponente shipyard Fincantieri close after an investment of 500 M €, the Costa Pacifica (290.20 meters in length and 114 147 tonnes) is a Class Concordia, the Costa Concordia sank in January 13, 2012 off the island of Giglio in Italy. It has 13 passenger decks and 1,504 cabins (capacity of 3780 passengers and 1100 crew members).

The cruise ship is now, ironically, a few miles from Napoleon Bonaparte SNCM whose bailouts begin while the keel rests on the bottom since October 28, 2012.

Coming back from a trip in Marseille I saw personally the ATHENA, PRINCESS DANAE and ATLANTIC STAR still under arrest, as well as the NAPOLEON BONAPARTE still some sank in same position. Photos of all ships were made.

Just saw an add for 60 Minutes to report on the salvage operation at 6:30 central.

Watched the 60 Minutes program. Interesting way on how they will right and float the ship. Basically, they will weld airtight compartments to the exposed side of the ship to act like pontoons, and build a deck under her so when the pull on her to right her, she will sit on the deck and not slide into the abyss. Pontoons will help her float. Construction of the enourmous pontoons and deck is well underway. She will then be towed to a yard to be scrapped.

Hopefully to a European yard where they could use the work rather than to Bangladesh, considering that video Fish posted on the other thread.

They're going to go to whoever does the work they're looking for at a price they can afford. Just like you take your car to a mechanic with reasonable prices, versus the dealer.

Actually I bring my car to the best mechanic I can find, and try to keep the business locally. That's for two older cars and a Harley. The important things to me in most things are that work be done well and that I support local business. Price comes in 3rd. Guess that's not the corporate way though.

AFFORD is the key word.

It doesn't matter if a corporation takes their stuff to a local business, if they go out of business 6 months later because they cannot afford to stay in business. A business has to make decisions that will keep it in business. Many very large corporations made bad decisions and are no longer in business. The cruise ship industry is a very volatile industry, hard to make a profit, and a cut throat business. With the various mishaps Costa has had in the past year or two, it's a wonder they can afford to do anything with this ship.....

So do you bring each car to the dealer? And the Harley to the Harley dealer or independant shops?

Yeah, it's a b**tch of an industry ...

Royal Caribbean Cruises Gross Profit Margin Quarterly (RCL)