Costa Concordia Runs Aground / Deaths Reported

[TLSnell1981]

I'm not surprised, the Captain is being detained. The Italians are angry, and they want answers. The ship was on the wrong side of the island? Why was he so far off course and so near the island? There are rumors and inuendo, and right now, that's enough to hold him. Hopefully, there will be honest answers.

 

[ranidayz]

This is very unfortunate, it's a big ship. We were close to this region last year on the Magic I can't even think how this families are.

I hope it ends well.

As I read this, I started thinking about the muster drill. It's all fine and good when your family is in their room or together and they have to go get in line with the jackets. But what if there is an emergency and the kids are in kids clubs and the the older kids are somewhere around the ship and the ship tilts and THAT's the side you're supposed to meet on? In other words, if we're in a real emergency like this one - how well would what we learn at the muster drill work for us.....and I'm one of the ones that really pays attention?

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

Interesting. I just read a thread on Cruise Critic about the Costa Concordia and the Carnival Splendor being sister ships. The Splendor was originally supposed to be part of Costa. IIRC, isn't the Splendor the ship that lost all power off the coast of Mexico and drifted for awhile before being towed in.

Costa is a part of the Carnival Corp along with HAL, Cunard, P&O, Princess, Aida, Ibero and Seabourn.

When we did a b2b I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so chatting with a CM during our "changeover" time. It was her day off, and a friend who had worked for Carnival had joined her for the afternoon. We talked a lot about the fire on the Splendor. The CM talked about how dangerous the situation onboard really was...not due to lack or lights or fresh food, but because they were drifting and would have been powerless to avoid sand bars or obstacles. They were a long way from land/cities and a rescue would be difficult. The crew member from Carnival said that the crew didn't have the same level of safety training that DCL crew had. I would hope that's changed, but given that Costa is owned by Carnival, maybe not. And the Captain left before the evacuation was complete?!

Either way, it's a horrible situation. I am praying for those still unaccounted for.

 

[pdwimmer]

This kind of tragic event might serve as a reminder to us all...

Have an emergency plan at home. Make sure your children know how to get themselves out of the house and know where to meet up with you.

Everyone over the age of 10 should learn CPR. Hey folks, it's not that bad anymore...no more mouth to mouth and all that yucky stuff. If you and your family don't know CPR please call you local Fire Department. They will be happy to tell you where and when the next classes are...probably for free.

Pay attention to the pre-flight briefing by flight attendants. It only lasts about 90 seconds, I'm sure you can put down the newspaper for that long. Do you know for sure where the closest emergency exit is? Did the airline change the type of plane on you, so it's not where you expect it to be?

Time and again, well designed studies have shown clearly that preparing for emergencies saves lives. But you actually have to participate people.

Well said! We just had our annual drill for getting the kids out of the house in the middle of a snow storm simulating a fire. The kids had no idea it was a drill. I know it scares the crap out of them when I do this to them, but I am hoping in the long run it will teach them to not panic in an emergency. I fly nearly every day of my life but I always pay attention to the flight crew when giving us instructions as all airplanes are a bit different.

To all those beating up ExTechie for the comment, not warranted either. Just has everyone's best interests at heart.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Not an expert on shipwrecks but is it usual for the ship to roll away from the side that's gashed open? The fact that we can see the gaping hole and rocks surprises me. I would have thought it would rolled onto that side, not away.

 

[NWmom]

Not an expert on shipwrecks but is it usual for the ship to roll away from the side that's gashed open? The fact that we can see the gaping hole and rocks surprises me. I would have thought it would rolled onto that side, not away.

I wondered about that as well. I think it has to do with exactly where it punctured and which area it accessed that can't be seen.

DH says that the water rushed in and over to the other side of the ship because of the force. As it continued doing that the force pushed it over to the other side of the ship as more water was going to that side of the ship. (he used more technical terms)
and that no, it is not unusual.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Myself neither,

But my guess is that once the water rushed in and the ship turned to Starboard to get closer to land, the water then moved to Starboard as well creating a larger mass of water on the Starboard side and making her unstable.
As the gash is on the Port side below the water line, more water could poor in.

It's just terrible.

Ex Techie

 

[Raspberry Beret]

I'm just stunned by the reports that the Captain left the ship before the evacuation was complete. That's just awful.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I just heard on the Weather Channel that the captain was arrested for abandoning ship & manslaughter. I hope he needs soap on a rope in prison.

It's bad enough the accident happened but the thought of him accepting a rescue while there are still people onboard gets me fiesty-mad!

 

[E&BMom]

Just read on CNN that 2 survivors have been found in the hull. Hope they find more.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/14/world/europe/italy-cruise-deaths/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

[lbgraves]

Anyone know what DCL's policy is if kids are in the clubs at the time of an emergency? Do clubs have their own muster station or do parents come and collect the kids? The thought of being separated from my kids at the time of an emergency like this one makes me freak out just a bit. What if you can't get there?!?

I asked a CM one time what happens. She explained that the children are grouped by lifeboat station [at the time the lifeboat station was on the wristband that all kids on the club & lab wear] and the YCMs would escort the kids to the station where the parents would meet them.

As I read this, I started thinking about the muster drill. It's all fine and good when your family is in their room or together and they have to go get in line with the jackets. But what if there is an emergency and the kids are in kids clubs and the the older kids are somewhere around the ship and the ship tilts and THAT's the side you're supposed to meet on? In other words, if we're in a real emergency like this one - how well would what we learn at the muster drill work for us.....and I'm one of the ones that really pays attention?

I thought of this exact thing when I saw the pictures of the ship today. This is going to be one of the questions I ask after we board our next cruise...just so I will know the answer.

 

[truck1]

Myself neither,

But my guess is that once the water rushed in and the ship turned to Starboard to get closer to land, the water then moved to Starboard as well creating a larger mass of water on the Starboard side and making her unstable.
As the gash is on the Port side below the water line, more water could poor in.

It's just terrible.

Ex Techie

I wondered about that as well. I think it has to do with exactly where it punctured and which area it accessed that can't be seen.

DH says that the water rushed in and over to the other side of the ship because of the force. As it continued doing that the force pushed it over to the other side of the ship as more water was going to that side of the ship. (he used more technical terms)
and that no, it is not unusual.

Not an expert on shipwrecks but is it usual for the ship to roll away from the side that's gashed open? The fact that we can see the gaping hole and rocks surprises me. I would have thought it would rolled onto that side, not away.

No its not normal for a ship to take on water on 1 side, then list the other way. Theres a few different reasons that she did, and I dont want to speculate and start an unecessary rumor(s) on why. Well know for sure when they do a dive inspection, and more detailed reports are released about what happened and when.

 

[JJsmama]

I was On the magic in the med when it lost power for several hours. It happened in the middle of the night, it was pitch black and scary. They told us it was a simple problem. I didnt believe them When they said it. Always be prepared and I don't think it makes a difference if it's DCL or whoever.

There are flash lights in the staterooms, right? How frightening! Why isnt there good emergency ligting? There should be back up generators! If you are at dinner, as were the poor souls on the Concordia, how would you get back to your stateroom in the dark for your life jacket?

 

[truck1]

Myself neither,

But my guess is that once the water rushed in and the ship turned to Starboard to get closer to land, the water then moved to Starboard as well creating a larger mass of water on the Starboard side and making her unstable.
As the gash is on the Port side below the water line, more water could poor in.

It's just terrible.

Ex Techie

In theory, that shouldnt happen. Water should be contained within a compartment(s) on that side and even if the ship turned, the water movement should be minimal. Thats perfect world/design. BTW pm coming.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

There are flash lights in the staterooms, right? How frightening! Why isnt there good emergency ligting? There should be back up generators! If you are at dinner, as were the poor souls on the Concordia, how would you get back to your stateroom in the dark for your life jacket?

There is emergency lighting in common area's and hallway's and green LED strip's at floor level leading to exit routes and down staircases.

There are no flashlight's in the Stateroom's as far as I'm aware.

This should be a massive wake up call for ALL cruise line's to exceed the regulations.

Ex Techie

 

[truck1]

There are flash lights in the staterooms, right? How frightening! Why isnt there good emergency ligting? There should be back up generators! If you are at dinner, as were the poor souls on the Concordia, how would you get back to your stateroom in the dark for your life jacket?

Depends on where in the system the failure is. Theoretically there are 2 different systems, BUT an emergency system prob wont power everything on the entire ship. Youll get important things like, power to launch lifeboats, pumps, engine bridge controls, and whatever else is mandatory. Typically on a ship, such as the Magic for example, there are 5 main engines. 2 are dedicated to providing power to her main engines. The other 3 are used for the ship. In order to provide the same power as back up, youd have to have 10 main engines, in which case the weight and cost would make that prohibitive.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

truck1,
My internet is down so on cell internet and slow. PM sent back.

Ex Techie

 

[mom4mad]

This is just tragic. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, survivors, the missing and their families. While I grouse about the muster drill a little, my family and I do participate-ALWAYS! We all actually put on our life vests, make sure our DD6 knows basically how to get it on by herself-maybe not perfectly, but enough that she should float-show her the whistle, the light. My husband and I familiarize ourselves with the toddler/infant one for our DD2-had to get a different life jacket on one cruise-wasn't the right kind, and if we hadn't tried them on, would not have known until too late. I really think everyone should have to put on their life jackets. Not that we all need to be in them for the whole drill, but at least demonstrate you can get one on you and your child.

I agree with the post about AP muster station. We have had that muster station twice, and while nice to be able to sit down and all, I would be more comfortable actually knowing where the lifeboat is!

The posts about the kids clubs do freak me out a little. While I think DCL and crew probably have every intention of getting the kids to the muster stations with their parents, how feasible is that in a true emergency? I am betting it is not. Do they have life vests in the clubs? Wouldn't it maybe be safer to just march all of the kids to a nearby lifeboat and put them on it? As much as I hate the idea of being separated from my girls in an emergency, I am not sure it wouldn't be safer to just load them on the nearest lifeboat and launch it asap.

As for the super bowl issue-what if DCL just recorded it, and showed it right after the muster drill? As long as everyone stays off the internet, no one should know what happens, right?

 

[twindaddy]

Ok, stupid question. I dont plan on spending a ton of time in my cabin (unless I get a pixie upgrade, ahem, DCL), so if I am on the other end of the ship as my muster station, I am expected to in an emergency proceed all the way to my assigned lifeboat? I cant just get on the nearest one? As far as the kids clubs go, just have the kids clubs CM's take them to the nearest lifeboat and load them on. If parents are freaking out, you make it known (before an emergency, like in in welcome packet) in the event of an emergency the kids clubs go to X lifeboat.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

But then you would have 150+ kid's on a lifeboat with 300+ parents trying to get onboard as well trying to find them.

Ex Techie