Costa Concordia : Questions

[narsibvl]

I read in one of the reports that Concordia couldn't use the life boats from one side as the ship was listing dangerously on that side. Is this true ? Even so, this is a perfectly possible scenario. How does the cruise lines counter this situation ?

 

[TDC Nala]

I read in one of the reports that Concordia couldn't use the life boats from one side as the ship was listing dangerously on that side. Is this true ? Even so, this is a perfectly possible scenario. How does the cruise lines counter this situation ?

According to accounts ships like this are required to have 125% lifeboat capacity.

I believe they were able to launch lifeboats from both sides of the Concordia, although not all lifeboats on either side. There's no indication that NONE of the boats on the starboard side were useable. There were articles that said crew members were preparing to launch lifeboats some time prior to the captain's abandon ship order (which is said to have come much later than it should have).

Article on lifeboat capacity regulation and current application of "women and children first" (there isn't any such regulation):

Also haven't seen any indication that any of the deaths or disappearances were due to lack of lifeboat space. There were passengers and crew who jumped overboard and swam but some of this was accountable to panic and some to the fact that land was close by and people took that route rather than waiting to board a lifeboat.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/16/costa-concordia-women

 

[Timinwa]

In the event of this type of hull breach, there are several things that can be done. After damage assessment, they should have realized that it was a losing battle (although, I think the investigation will prove otherwise), they could have commanded the guest to board the life boats and get them in the water. Also, the ship has large ballast tanks that could be used to keep the boat as level as possible while unloading the life boats. Although this is highly involved as you are purposely lowering the freeboard in order to balance the ship. There are several other ways, but these would make the most difference. The investigation will reveal all the details and I assume there is a lot of information not available yet.
Tim

 

[Deb in IA]

Also haven't seen any indication that any of the deaths or disappearances were due to lack of lifeboat space. There were passengers and crew who jumped overboard and swam but some of this was accountable to panic and some to the fact that land was close by and people took that route rather than waiting to board a lifeboat.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/16/costa-concordia-women

Just a word of caution, though.

Swimming in chilly, choppy waters (sea temp in the Mediterranean is 15 C, or about 59 F), especially with street clothes on can be very difficult, even for short distances.

 

[narsibvl]

In the event of this type of hull breach, there are several things that can be done. After damage assessment, they should have realized that it was a losing battle (although, I think the investigation will prove otherwise), they could have commanded the guest to board the life boats and get them in the water. Also, the ship has large ballast tanks that could be used to keep the boat as level as possible while unloading the life boats. Although this is highly involved as you are purposely lowering the freeboard in order to balance the ship. There are several other ways, but these would make the most difference. The investigation will reveal all the details and I assume there is a lot of information not available yet.
Tim

I am assuming the captain should be "On the ship", to give such orders. Apparently not so in this case.

 

[narsibvl]

Looking at the videos, the ships funnel almost touch land after the ship listed. They were that close to land. No wonder people jumped off to swim ashore.

 

[kcashner]

I have no expertise in this situation...but as an outside observer, it seems that they waited a long time before any attempt was made to lower lifeboats. Perhaps if they had made the decision that all passengers needed to be evacuated to the lifeboats in a timely fashion, the lifeboats would still have been able to launch.

And per the news report I just saw, the captain left the ship and was ordered back on by Italian authorities; he denied knowing anything about deaths, and grossly underestimated the number of people on the ship. They did say that deaths were related to people jumping overboard.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

The scary thing must have been that they didn't know the ship wasn't going to sink completely - that it would hit bottom first. So when they ran out of usable lifeboats, all those people left on board had to decide to swim for it (and at least a few people died this way, because of the cold water) or wait on ship to be rescued by a helicopter/boat and maybe the ship would go under and suck you down at the end...

Looking at the videos, the ships funnel almost touch land after the ship listed. They were that close to land. No wonder people jumped off to swim ashore.

 

[Hev]

There are 2 things in particular that really shocked me reading about the Concordia...

Number 1 - They had not carried out a passenger safety drill immediately after sail away Something I assumed was standard but apparently only on British & American cruise lines. No wonder there was panic!

Number 2 - That crew jumped into the water.

As an ex crew member, I can tell you we have to go through extensive safety training and on going onboard training (With DCL anyway). One of the things that is implanted in your mind is that you NEVER jump into the water.

Before the training I would have thought "I'm a strong swimmer, I could jump and swim" but after....no freaking way! In cold waters (Italy right now) you can die in 2 minutes, the most common way being drowning after swallowing water while in shock. Also hyperthermia and currents.

Crew life rafts are much easier to deploy than lifeboats and can be moved easily.

If crew are not trained properly for this eventuality, they shouldn't be on the ship, simple as that.

 

[truck1]

According to accounts ships like this are required to have 125% lifeboat capacity.

I believe they were able to launch lifeboats from both sides of the Concordia, although not all lifeboats on either side. There's no indication that NONE of the boats on the starboard side were useable. There were articles that said crew members were preparing to launch lifeboats some time prior to the captain's abandon ship order (which is said to have come much later than it should have).

Article on lifeboat capacity regulation and current application of "women and children first" (there isn't any such regulation):

Also haven't seen any indication that any of the deaths or disappearances were due to lack of lifeboat space. There were passengers and crew who jumped overboard and swam but some of this was accountable to panic and some to the fact that land was close by and people took that route rather than waiting to board a lifeboat.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/16/costa-concordia-women

With the exception of 2 or 3 boats, all of the lifeboats were able to launch. whether they had full capcity on board (the lifeboats)is a different story. Also, there were numerous liferafts that were deployed.

 

[TDC Nala]

One of the British newspapers had a photo of a line of people climbing down a rope from the side of the ship to reach the rafts.

 

[truck1]

One of the British newspapers had a photo of a line of people climbing down a rope from the side of the ship to reach the rafts.

Which is one of the reasons I said being launched full was a different story.Theres a lot of things that didnt go right that night and I dont think weve heard or seen half of it.