Costa Concordia sinks off the coast of Italy

There's been a lot written about this tragedy, so I'm unable to find the numbers, but I believe that movement so far has been on a fairly level stretch of bottom according to the illustration accompanying that BBC story. In fact, according to that illustration the wing (I believe it is) is also on a 2nd ledge. So movement may be almost lateral and not easily perceived. My guess is that until it leaves either of those ledges you won't notice much from shore. But if it leaves either of those ledges.....

If that ship was anywhere in Central America, the locals would've had that thing stripped and at the scrap yard weeks ago......It's a tough situation, but judging by the pace it is moving at, it's not going to be easy to get it out of there. I would think they'd have made more process than what they have.

There's still 15 bodies down there. Their recovery (and not losing any more lives in the process) has to be first priority from a humanitarian, PR and even liability standpoint. Then (and at the same time) securing and removing the fuel. As much as the cruise line's PR guys would like it to disapear from view, that's last priority.

Hi,

Given that there seems to have been Passengers who were involved with Crew Members who were not on the manifest 15 might be just the number accounted for on paper.

The main effort at the moment would seem to be centred on reducing the Environmental Damage potential - No matter what the final outcome is the whole operation will be easier to complete with no fuel on-board - the tanks if intact might be able to provide some positive buoyancy if an attempt is actually made to re-float the hulk in one piece.

Hi,

It was pretty widely reported in the days following the incident.

There has been a pretty steady stream since too.

Costa Concordia: operation complicated by unregistered passengers - Telegraph

Thankfully and hopefully

Hi,

The bit you have quoted is what the authorities would have you believe is a result of the ISPS and all the other associated paperwork thrust upon Mariners.

In reality the story is quite different.

I would say that port security in and around the MED is not much different to how it was 10 yrs ago.

If the Master or other Senior Officer on what to all intents and purposes would be seen as an Italian cruise ship in an Italian Port wanted a bit of unregistered skirt on-board I would say that there wouldn't be much to prevent it happening.

Who knows if the 15 bodies are even in there, or floated out to who knows where. At this point, you can honestly say there are no more survivors left, and the bodies that "may" be in the ship would be so badly decomposed that they are only bones. There's no sense wasting resources and possibly risking people's lives (divers) to look for them. It's been almost 2 months.

Their main focus at this point should be getting all of the fuel and any other hazardous materials/liquids out of the boat to prevent a major EPA disaster that would effect millions of people and animals. Then getting the ship out of there, or just dragging it into deeper water and leaving it an artificial reef would be the next priority. Although this bears even more environmental issues in regards to furnishings, wiring, and who knows what else.

Another Costa cruise ship in trouble.

Costa Allegra catches fire

Another Costa Cruise Ship Catches Fire, Adrift In Indian Ocean

Costa just doesn't seem to be able to get a break.

The bad PR seems to be coming one after another for the cruise industry this week. 22 Passengers of I believe it was a Carnival cruise got held up on a shore excursion, and a crew member fell off another ship. Fortunately all the results have been not much more than inconveniences, but I think they'd rather be telling love stories.

AND, the Costa Allegra had an electrical fire in the generator room and is floating around dead ship until late afternoon tommorow without electricity or propulsion until tow boats get there.

Brian Williams on NBC news said....

......that the ship was "....adrift in pirate-infested waters..." Is that literally true, or just more prime time sensationalism?

The BBC report that she is now under tow.

BBC News - Home

Reuters reports a "tuna purse-seiner" is towing her.

Costa Cruises liner towed to Seychelles' main island | Reuters

Also points out some very expensive logistics for dusting off 1500 people.


Do insurance companies pay for ship salvage, law suits, towing, refunds and flying passengers back to port? Probably self insured up to some big number (their yet?).
Costa has enough bad rep but a bunch of Small things (see above a few post) are giving all the cruise ships a bad rap.
Cruise ship companies must have deep and wide check-books.

I have also heard, but have not had time to verify, that a dozen or so marines are now on board to protect against pirates.

airship is both enraged and in some pain, after visiting his French dentist earlier this afternoon:

1) My regular French dentist (I've been working here for over 20 years...) at first simply said that he couldn't detect any cavities in the molar which has been giving me so much pain since last Friday. After some rummaging around with their favourite high-speed drills in the general area, he basically said "Whoa, the whole tooth is moving...". He's given me the option of paying Euro 2,000 for construction of a suitable bridge "ceramic finish", or else simply removing the tooth. With a reduction of the current 19.60% sales tax or TVA, if I were to pay in cash.

2) Costa Cruises and all other similar operators of gigantic cruise-vessels should henceforth be confronted with "draconian measures" when it comes to ensuring the safety of their passengers on the cruises offered. The Costa Allegra may well be benefitting from calm seas etc. during the current emergency but that will not always be the case. The point is that huge cruise-ships increasingly operate in areas where the facilities for rescue of their passengers are mostly non-existent, as in the current Costa Allegra incident.

3) Apparently, French citizens aboard the stricken vessel will be repatriated as soon as possible, the French government paying the bills before (if ever) trying to be reimbursed by the cruise-ship operator / tour agent etc.

Meanwhile, the French government insists that airship continues to suffer, having apparently not yet paid enough into French government coffers over the past 20 ****ing years and French social security which has become more expensive than the Scandinavians.

Someone, gimme a Kalashnikov and a few 100s of rounds. If that doesn't sort it, I reckon y'all will have to wait a few weeks more (after I'm dead) and the rest "of us" begin to climb out of the shruberry...

Hi all,

More about the crippled Costa Allegra:

February 28, 2012 — NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Helicopters ferried food, phones and flashlights Tuesday to more than 1,000 passengers and crew stuck aboard a disabled cruise ship that was being towed to the Seychelles Islands through waters prowled by pirates.

Those aboard the Costa Allegra, a sister ship of the cruise liner that capsized off Italy last month, faced more stifling days and nights before the vessel docks in the tropical paradise. The stricken liner was expected to reach the main Seychelles island of Mahe on Thursday, the Italian cruise operator said.

"The speed of the ship, despite the hot and humid climate, creates a slight breeze that helps make the situation more comfortable," a company statement said. It said fresh bread would be brought in Wednesday since cooking was impossible, but added there was "no lack of food and other comfort items."

Fire erupted Monday in the ship's generator room, knocking out power to its engines, lights and air conditioning. The blaze came just six weeks after the Costa Concordia hit a reef and capsized off Italy, killing 32 people. Both ships are operated by Costa Crociere SpA, which is owned by Florida-based Carnival Corp.

No one was injured in Monday's fire, but the blaze set the cruise liner adrift at sea in a region where Somali pirates prey on ships. Company officials rushed to play down concerns. The Costa Allegra is "being pushed by the current. It is stable and upright," Giorgio Moretti, the director of nautical operations for Costa Crociere SpA, told reporters in a conference call late Monday from company headquarters in Genoa, Italy.

"It's a big ship and to tow it, to move it across the waters, is a heavy task," said Seychelles presidential spokeswoman Srdjana Janosevic. She said that all was calm on board the vessel and no one was hurt.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Wish all the passengers remain safe.

Cheers.

sister ships

This is not a sister ship, same company but far from the same design