Costa Concordia Runs Aground / Deaths Reported

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just to add to your post, there are in fact many many more lifejacket's of both adult and small cruser sizes plus infant cot versions available in various lockers within the ship on Deck 4 and within Crew Only marked area's, not just the benches incase anyone goes looking for them in the unlikely event of needing them.

The CM's aboard will collect and bring them to those that need them.

DCL really do not mess around when it comes to safety.

Ex Techie

I like to think that but we've never seen DCL really put to the test like Costa just was. I like to think there would be a quicker reaction, more communication among officers & crew, more & frequent communication to guests, better coordination at the muster stations, more presence of officers & making it obvious that someone is in charge. Not the bungling that "Michele" from Australia posted on cruise critic. Her story about the waiter or cook trying to steer the lifeboat & just circling cuz they didn't know what else to do, no orders from above, one crew member having to get on another's shoulders just to steer the lifeboat, this all just sickens me to no end.
Don't get me wrong, I still love cruising & can't wait til our Apr cruise but I'm not so blissfully starry-eyed about it anymore.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

DCL have never had to abandon their ship's before, but they did have a "thermal anomaly" once in a smoke stack back in '02.

It was handled very well, calmly and professionaly from the report's I heard and read, even with Guest's at the lifeboat station for over 4 hours.

Ex Techie

Edit to add:
"Disney Magic Smoke stack fire; extinguished within an hour. Passengers were awakened at 5:00 AM and told to go to their assembly stations with their life jackets. Arrives at next destination 1.5 hours late."

 

[K8T]

This is so shocking, watching the news today, the rescue operation is suspended, as the ship is moving, one hopes that there are no more people inside awaiting rescue, it would be terrifying.

It has also been announced by Costa 'That the Captain acted contrary to Company rules'

Extechie, thanks for that, very interesting to see that at least they had everyone ready.

I was saying to OH that if they are telling you there is nothing to worry about (as they did on the Concorida), are you likely to be the one person who goes and gets your lifejacket 'just in case' and then be a bit embarrassed when everything is then OK (bearing in mind there was at least an hour before someone gave the signal to muster and in the meantime they were told everything would be sorted out shortly), or do you wait and see what is going to happen, presuming that everything is under control, by which time you maybe at a disadvantage?

At least DCL on this occassion, did get passengers prepared and the crew ready to react if they had to, which is comforting to know.

I still think that whatever the actions of the Captain were on Friday night, the crew still managed to get over 3,000 people off the ship in under 2 hours, which given the time of night which surely is no mean feat. Sure there would be panic and disorganisation at some stages, isn't that to be expected.

No doubt we will all pay a little more attention in future and check that our jackets are there. On our last DCL cruise we had three adult jackets when we were two adults and one child. On another cruise line we were given a baby jacket when our dd was a child size!

Thoughts with the families affected by all of this.

Kate

P.S. We know how to put our lifejackets on, but many times on many cruises, we have seen people with them on the wrong way and even on occassions assisted others with the ties and how to even open the jacket. I hope DCL do go back to getting passengers to put them on.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

What will they do with the ship, just let it sit there??

As posted, there is already a salvage company there setting up to stablize the fuel and oil tanks and possibly start pumping oil off to prevent a major oil spill.


There is likely already various salvage companies there working up bids to remove the hulk, float her and then bring her to wherever Costas line or the *then* owners want. Yes she maybe sold before this is finished.

These costs will be covered by the hull underwirters and the vessel owners other insurance .

However due to costs it is likely she will be scrapped.


This is not a standard cargo vessel. The Concorda, any cruise ship is a electrical monster,wiring, systems,all will need to be totally removed. Basicly she would have to be totally gutted down to bare steel, before she could be rebuilt. Salt water is the evil thing here.....it gets into everything and slowly rots everything.

She was a $500 million ship when new..........before the wreck......maybe $300 million............To totally rebiuld her, your looking at nearly what it would cost to biuld a new ship. Remember its easier to built a ship from the keel up, then to feed and install all that eqiupment in a already built steel structure.


The wreck will have a good deal of value in itself.........the steel in the hull,the value of some components, the engines, some machinary.

Add to all that add the fact that she will always be known as the *Concordia*, no matter what name she has.

IMO, the wreck will be scrapped.

AKK

 

[Capt Stitch]

I am glad to hear DCL is prepared going on our first one in June. We have been on two other cruises and just like the airline drills we pay half attention at the muster drills.

I am not sure how any cruise employees Disney or otherwise can truly be prepared for an emergency. Do they have a simulator where they have a ship tilted to one side and try and evacuate thousands of people who are in a life and death mind set? Yes they go through the motions during the muster drill and all of the guests are just happy to be on vacation they will put on their jackets and play with the little lights but when it is "go" time things will get crazy.

On future cruises I will definitively make sure our life jackets in our cabin are the proper size and the needed amount. Will pay more attention to the emergency exit plan on the back of the door. In other words will take responsibility for my own safety and not depend on employees that have been thrown into a chaotic emergency.

Will even put our passports, money and CC in a water proof bag in the safe in case we need to disembark sooner than expected.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the Costa Concordia disaster and pray the remaining passengers are found safe.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Add to all that add the fact that she will always be known as the *Concordia*, no matter what name she has.

IMO, the wreck will be scrapped.

AKK

Isn't it considered bad luck to rename a ship? Not that there could be worse luck than sinking...

I can't imagine anybody wanting to sail on this ship now.

 

[K8T]

OMG!! Shocking news, Costa have just said..... "the captain did not follow standard procedures and deviated from the set course..."

It could possibly be fact that Costa Captains frequently pass near the Island of Grigio to 'show off'.

Unbelievable.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Good Morning Folks,

We all have to remember that we still have very little confirmed information........a few reports from poor souls who are scared, in shock and hurt. A news media that is looking to make everything as sensational as possible,........facts be dammed! *IF* I was going to beleive any of them it would be the BBC

A am sure alot of things were done wrong.....crews scared, where the ship was and why......etc.......but we can't go beleiving everything as a truth yet.

In addition the lawlyers have now had time to start damage control. Maritime and international law in these cases is a warren of layers. The fact that the Captain and chief Officer were arrested means nothing,especailly in Italy, except that it keeps them from leaving the country.


I was suggest we all keep a open mind until this plays out..and that will take months.


My family prayers to the families of the 5 lost.

AKK

AKK

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Isn't it considered bad luck to rename a ship? Not that there could be worse luck than sinking...

I can't imagine anybody wanting to sail on this ship now.

It is indeed a old sea tale......However today, ships are renamed all the time.

AKK

 

[Rogillio]

It is indeed a old sea tale......However today, ships are renamed all the time.

AKK

According to Wikipedia, she cost $570M. I know she would have to be gutted now but it's hard to imagine scrapping her. I agree with what you posted earlier about the salt water being so corrosive that all wiring would be have to torn out but it seems like most of the structure, the rooms, the decks and the bridge and part above water would be salvagable.

Well I'm sure the corporate guys will look at the tax write-off and the PR aspects and she may indeed end up but sold for parts and scrap iron.

 

[insureman]

It is indeed a old sea tale......However today, ships are renamed all the time.

AKK

The US Navy has been doing this for years.

 

[K8T]

No, I am quoting 'fact', from Costa's officical statement live on TV in the UK (BBC) at this moment...

..."Captain made an unauthorised unapproved deviation from its programmed course and the cause of the tragedy is ' Human error'.

he also said......

"That the route was programmed into the ship on departure and that if the route was changed, alarms would sound...."

 

[taswira]

No, I am quoting 'fact', from Costa's officical statement live on TV in the UK (BBC) at this moment... >>>

This is true. When even the company itself publicly lays blame on the Captain, that does not bode well for his future.
----------------------
Rome (AP): The captain of the cruise ship that capsized off Tuscany made an unauthorized, unapproved deviation from its programmed course, a "human error" that led to the grounding of the vessel, the chief executive of the ship's Italian owner said Monday. At least six people died in the incident.

The comments from Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi ramped up the pressure on the captain, who already is under investigation by authorities for suspected manslaughter and as well as allegations he abandoned ship before the passengers were safe, violating the Italian navigation code.

 

[Raspberry Beret]

Good Morning Folks,

We all have to remember that we still have very little confirmed information........a few reports from poor souls who are scared, in shock and hurt. A news media that is looking to make everything as sensational as possible,........facts be dammed! *IF* I was going to beleive any of them it would be the BBC

A am sure alot of things were done wrong.....crews scared, where the ship was and why......etc.......but we can't go beleiving everything as a truth yet.

In addition the lawlyers have now had time to start damage control. Maritime and international law in these cases is a warren of layers. The fact that the Captain and chief Officer were arrested means nothing,especailly in Italy, except that it keeps them from leaving the country.


I was suggest we all keep a open mind until this plays out..and that will take months.


My family prayers to the families of the 5 lost.

AKK

AKK

No, it's not unconfirmed. The statement K8T posted above comes directly from Costa Cruise line... "the captain did not follow standard procedures and deviated from the set course...". Unless the cruise line is "throwing the Captain under the bus", I would say that Costa's statement is confirmation that this tragic incident was caused by the Captain. If he was actually doing a "sail by" to wave to a friend that makes this situation even more tragic.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The normal route is on the west side of the island. The initial info, I've heard and read, she was on east side, between the island and The Italian coast. The Captain, reportedly, did this frequently, giving port side a view, and waving...

Now, did these actions cause the accident? Hopefully, the truth will emerge.

 

[tripodjw]

This is true. When even the company itself publicly lays blame on the Captain, that does not bode well for his future.
----------------------
Rome (AP): The captain of the cruise ship that capsized off Tuscany made an unauthorized, unapproved deviation from its programmed course, a "human error" that led to the grounding of the vessel, the chief executive of the ship's Italian owner said Monday. At least six people died in the incident.

The comments from Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi ramped up the pressure on the captain, who already is under investigation by authorities for suspected manslaughter and as well as allegations he abandoned ship before the passengers were safe, violating the Italian navigation code.

Though this is exactly what you would expect the company to say to try and minimise law suits against them. Whether he is at fault or not, i suspect the captain will get little help and support from his employer if they think they will get held liable for less by hanging him out to dry.

To whomever above said to believe the BBC reports most, they are almost as bad as the rest of the media at hamming things up (according to them a few years back everyone under 50 was going to catch swine flu and most of us would die ), though admittedly they are slightly less sensationalist than other media outlets.

All media are pretty much working from the same spokespeople and "exclusive" interviews with passengers and crew who are understandably all in shock.

So take all media reports with a pinch of salt at these early stages. We'll find out what happened sooner or later as there will inevitably be a formal report.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Has there been any news in regards to the passenger account of a couple and their small child being left behind? I keep thinking about them.

 

[Kona65]

My disgust at those on here that do not think the emergency drill is important...... Ughh.
Please do not ever step foot on a boat let alone a ship. You are not welcome.

Best wishes to all of those still alive. Get to land quickly and safely.
Thought's to the family and friends of those that have perished.

Ex Techie

Are you for real? And do you really think that the people on the ship are reading your post about getting to land quickly and safely?

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

No, I am quoting 'fact', from Costa's officical statement live on TV in the UK (BBC) at this moment...

..."Captain made an unauthorised unapproved deviation from its programmed course and the cause of the tragedy is ' Human error'.

he also said......

"That the route was programmed into the ship on departure and that if the route was changed, alarms would sound...."

My point was that just becuase Costo is saying so......doesn't make fact. They have alot of liablity here and the lawylers are for sure damage controll. Which may mean throwing the Master under the bus.......a legal point that does make alot of difference is whether Costa knew of the Masters course changes this trip and/or others.

We do not know for fact what routes were permited or not.

On the other side of the coin, the Master as total control of what course he will put the vessel on, of course, if he was reckless and that recklessness cuased the wreck, then he could indeed be crimminally liable.


As for the alarm sounding, that is true, it is meant to advise the bridge watch when the vessel was off course, not if a intendtional course change were done.

AKK

 

[Alexander]

Just to add to your post, there are in fact many many more lifejacket's of both adult and small cruser sizes plus infant cot versions available in various lockers within the ship on Deck 4 and within Crew Only marked area's, not just the benches incase anyone goes looking for them in the unlikely event of needing them.

The CM's aboard will collect and bring them to those that need them.

DCL really do not mess around when it comes to safety.

Ex Techie

I like to think that but we've never seen DCL really put to the test like Costa just was. I like to think there would be a quicker reaction, more communication among officers & crew, more & frequent communication to guests, better coordination at the muster stations, more presence of officers & making it obvious that someone is in charge. Not the bungling that "Michele" from Australia posted on cruise critic. Her story about the waiter or cook trying to steer the lifeboat & just circling cuz they didn't know what else to do, no orders from above, one crew member having to get on another's shoulders just to steer the lifeboat, this all just sickens me to no end.
Don't get me wrong, I still love cruising & can't wait til our Apr cruise but I'm not so blissfully starry-eyed about it anymore.

When we were on the Dream in August and at Nassau for the second day in a row (sigh) the Allure pulled in next to us. As we sat having lunch we watched them launch their lifeboats on the starboard side as part of a routine drill.
We talked with one of the lunch servers about it and he said that DCL drills with their boats 2X more than what is required by law. I am very confident that DCL is prepared better than most to handle a "situation".

As we watched the crew struggle to control the lifeboats, the CM explained that those boats only have one motor and they are very difficult to steer. He said DCL lifeboats have two motors and are much more steerable. He also indicated that they have far more people trained on the lifeboats than they would ever need should someone not be able to make it to their station.

No, DCL has never had to go through such a horrific experience, but I just feel that the level of customer service and care for the guests is so much higher and lets be honest, Disney does not want a scandal like what appears to be happening with the Concordia. I have much more confidence in DCL than most of the others....naive....probably, but oh well!