Costa Concordia Runs Aground / Deaths Reported

[pxlbarrel]

edit: deleted to prevent propagation of useless bickering. LOL

 

[Seahunt]

If you click on the facebook link on the second page of this thread, you can see that the lifeboats on the listing side of the ship were launched. If you continue to look through the pictures you will see the lifeboats and the rafts are lined up at a dock on the island.

If you haven't read this yet, I posted this from cruisecritic late last night - it shows what an Australian lady and her 12 year old daughter went through with the lifeboats.

After the power went out they were sent to their cabin to wait, and then:

Cabin staff told us not to get our life jackets it was not neccesary we sat on stools and the floor joking with them, this went on for what seemed like an hour, the boat struck just after 9pm I think. Then a message came over the speakers all of the staff left immediately.

We were left alone as the abandon ship sirens screamed, we grabbed a coat and shoes in place of high heels our life vests, put them on and headed for the lifeboats. We stood on the deck for ages before the cabin staff told us to enter the lifeboats. We got into the boats we had a waiter in the drivers seat and some boys in white overalls, the lifeboat filled to capacity and they shut the door, people screamed the door was purshed open and people continued to enter the boat overflowing it the waiter in the drivers seat trying repatedly to get an answer form the bridge to drop the lifeboat. I dont believe that message ever came eventually an Indian engineer came who said he should be the driver the gate was sealed and they started to drop the boat, it was horryfying the boat was too heavy it lurched all of as standing were thrown to the floor the boat stuck on the side of the ship with men desperatly trying to lever it off the side of the boat.

Eneutally we got to the sea the waiter was too short to see out the top of the boat to steer they circled around the boat for ages and ages, eventually the engineer steered with the waiter on his shoulders we just kept circling with the shore so close and all those people still on the boat and we kept circling. Lifeboats crashed into each other they were empty but they were not going back to the boat they had no orders no instructions. Eventually we tried to dock but crashed into the wharf circled a bit more and docked.



http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1548951

*Bolding is mine - can you imagine the waiter who is driving the lifeboat having to climb on the engineers shoulders just so they can see?*

 

[pxlbarrel]

If you haven't read this yet, I posted this from cruisecritic late last night - it shows what an Australian lady and her 12 year old daughter went through with the lifeboats.

After the power went out they were sent to their cabin to wait, and then:

Cabin staff told us not to get our life jackets it was not neccesary we sat on stools and the floor joking with them, this went on for what seemed like an hour, the boat struck just after 9pm I think. Then a message came over the speakers all of the staff left immediately.

We were left alone as the abandon ship sirens screamed, we grabbed a coat and shoes in place of high heels our life vests, put them on and headed for the lifeboats. We stood on the deck for ages before the cabin staff told us to enter the lifeboats. We got into the boats we had a waiter in the drivers seat and some boys in white overalls, the lifeboat filled to capacity and they shut the door, people screamed the door was purshed open and people continued to enter the boat overflowing it the waiter in the drivers seat trying repatedly to get an answer form the bridge to drop the lifeboat. I dont believe that message ever came eventually an Indian engineer came who said he should be the driver the gate was sealed and they started to drop the boat, it was horryfying the boat was too heavy it lurched all of as standing were thrown to the floor the boat stuck on the side of the ship with men desperatly trying to lever it off the side of the boat.

Eneutally we got to the sea the waiter was too short to see out the top of the boat to steer they circled around the boat for ages and ages, eventually the engineer steered with the waiter on his shoulders we just kept circling with the shore so close and all those people still on the boat and we kept circling. Lifeboats crashed into each other they were empty but they were not going back to the boat they had no orders no instructions. Eventually we tried to dock but crashed into the wharf circled a bit more and docked.



http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1548951

How terrifying.

It's odd to think about it now but during our last cruise, just before the drill, I watched some of the crew getting ready for the drill. And I saw our server, who we knew from our last cruse, amongst those getting read to get to their stations. I knew that the servers, the guys in the yellow jumpsuits, the guys in the white shorts who entertain us and call out the bingo numbers would be responsible for our safety in the event of an emergency but I don't think it sunk in until now.

 

[Rogillio]

Did any of the people who swam to shore have a lifevest on? I don't know the answer to that and unless you have some insight, neither do you.

Having still very little information on what occurred that evening, I'm not entirely sure how you can be so confident as to make that last statement or any other statements that you've made or should "Best I can tell" be implied in your posts?

Please do! Anthing I post is my opinion unless I state otherwise that it's a documented fact. Obviously I am not on the ground at the site of the crash and so base my opinions on what I've seen and read on the news and on the internet the last day and a half. I never said those that jumped in voluntarily did were not wearing vests. I'm sure most of them were. That was not the point. My point is and remains that putting on a lifevest did not save lives....unless there was someone who jumped in the water (voluntarily) with a lifevest and then passed out and was kept afloat by the vest until they were pulled from the water. Kinda doubt it but I supposed it is possible...

As far as being confident when I opine, guilty as charged. I honestly believe what I post. You are free to disagree but please do no impung my opinion in the process. In other words, attack the opinion not the one opinning.

 

[pxlbarrel]

Please do! Anthing I post is my opinion unless I state otherwise that it's a documented fact. Obviously I am not on the ground at the site of the crash and so base my opinions on what I've seen and read on the news and on the internet the last day and a half. I never said those that jumped in voluntarily did were not wearing vests. I'm sure most of them were. That was not the point. My point is and remains that putting on a lifevest did not save lives....unless there was someone who jumped in the water (voluntarily) with a lifevest and then passed out and was kept afloat by the vest until they were pulled from the water. Kinda doubt it but I supposed it is possible...

As far as being confident when I opine, guilty as charged. I honestly believe what I post. You are free to disagree but please do no impung my opinion in the process. In other words, attack the opinion not the one opinning.

I obviously did not delete my post in time to prevent the propagation of this line of discussion. My bad for not acting quick enough to prevent more of my participation in this useless speculation.

And by the way, no matter how good a swimmer you are, a lifevest will still help you if you're in the water. It's not just for unconcious people.

 

[Rogillio]

I obviously did not delete my post in time to prevent the propagation of this line of discussion. My bad for not acting quick enough to prevent more of my participation in this useless speculation.

And by the way, no matter how good a swimmer you are, a lifevest will still help you if you're in the water. It's not just for unconcious people. : rolleyes :

Nice.

Not so. I have completed 2 ironman triathlons that included a 2.4 mile swim in open water. I would never have been able to swim 2.4 miles wearing a life vest! Now that is just a fact.

Then again, I've been SCUBA diving in the Atlantic and had to wait for a long time to be pick up by the dive boat and used my BCD (which acts like a life vest when it has air it) to stay afloat while treading water.

So it depends on the situation.

 

[disneydreamfan14]

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

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

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

Either re-float it and refurb it, or re-float it and break it up if the internal damage is too severe.
Hopefully it won't break up on the rock's where it is before they can do either.

Ex Techie

 

[pxlbarrel]

Either re-float it and refurb it, or re-float it and break it up if the internal damage is too severe.
Hopefully it won't break up on the rock's where it is before they can do either.

Ex Techie

I read that they're getting a company from the Netherlands (I think...) to come and drain the fuel from the ship to prevent any fuel leaks from occuring.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

I read that they're getting a company from the Netherlands (I think...) to come and drain the fuel from the ship to prevent any fuel leaks from occuring.

Good move.
The clean up cost's could exceed any kind of recovery and salvage cost's.

I'm still shocked this has happened. Not that it couldn't happen, but because it was allowed to happen.

Ex Techie

 

[SeaSpray]

This article indicates that this was all due to "human error", misjudgement, whatever you want to call it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...d-Italian-rocks-to-greet-friend-on-shore.html

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Please no. I hope that report about signalling to those on the island isn't correct.

If just for the families of those that perished.

Ex Techie

 

[kaseyC]

Please no. I hope that report about signalling to those on the island isn't correct.

If just for the families of those that perished.

Ex Techie

I agree. It's incomprehensible to me that someone could put the lives of over 4000 passengers and crew at risk to perform such a juvenile stunt.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

I agree. It's incomprehensible to me that someone could put the lives of over 4000 passengers and crew at risk to perform such a juvenile stunt.

This is the same man who abandoned his passengers, his crew and his ship. I wouldn't put it past him.

 

[Onkel Hans]

... No way am I just gonna sit in a lifeboat for 2 hrs waiting for it to be luanched.​

Ironically, it does not appear that donning a lifevest saved anyone. Best I can tell, only those who voluntarily jumped in and made a swim for it actually got wet. Not saying people don't need to know where the vests are - although that is pretty obvious the first time you open you closet.

Knowing how to 'put the vest on' seems kind of strange to me but I suppose there are people in the world who have never seen a life vest....just like people who might not know how to operate a seatbelt on an airplane.

I hope I am never in an emergency situation with you. Judging from the arrogance found in your posts, I am quite sure you are the kind of person who would interfere with the folks who are trained and responsible for your (and my) safety, likely delaying the launch of my lifeboat for hours.

Yes, there are many people who haven't seen a life vest, and still more who have never put one on. Even those who have worn one may not know they are properly worn, so if they had to depend on their vest to stay afloat it may not keep their head above water. It is the cruise line's responsibility to make sure all aboard know how to don their vest properly.

I think, he is in "custody", while they "investigate" the charges. Anything less, the Italians would feel, the authorities weren't doing their job. If, he's at fault, they want him held accountable....not have this swept aside. It's just their way.

This ship should have been on the OPPOSITE side of the island. The Captain could have brought her in, after she sustained damage. This could explain, why she's so close to land. IMO I still, can't get over...she's on the wrong side. Can Tonka or someone give an explanation, as to why? Or, is this the big flag, I think it is?

I agree that it is too soon to judge the Captain, crew or the ship. papers want to make big headlines, and authorities do not want to look ineffective. I think the European equivalent of the NTSB will have better information about this.

I am very curious about the ship being on the wrong side of the island. Do you have a link that shows where the ship was supposed to be?

If you were on the boat deck when the accident occured, would you go back into the ship to retrieve your vest? I think that is what the emergency procedure calls for is it not? This seems kind of odd to me. I mean, it's ok for a muster drill when they start telling you an hour before the drill that there will be a drill. But in a real emergency where the ship is filling with water, I'd not be inclinded to go up to Deck 8 or down to deck 2 to get my life vest. I'm thinking some of the rooms on the listing side of the ship would soon be taking on water.

Just a thought.

There are life jackets stored in cabinets and under benches on deck 4, so I would suppose that if you can't get to your stateroom, you could still go directly to your stateroom.

As for not having enough time to go get your life vest, this ship had a 150 foot gouge in her side below the waterline, but there was enough time to wait 45 minutes before starting emergency procedures, and wait 2 hours for the lifeboat to descend. It is rare that a ship goes down "in minutes," even rarer considering that cruise ships don't have powder magazines and are unlikely to take a 15 inch shell from the Bismark.

MS Explorer, after striking an iceberg, took 20 hours to sink. All passengers and crew survived after taking to the lifeboats.

Sun Vista took seven hours to sink after catching fire. All passengers and crew survived after entering the lifeboats.

Passengers of the Achille Lauro had seven hours to abandon ship after it caught fire, with just two lost lives during the transfer from ship to life raft to rescue ship.

Nope, I wouldn't go back for it. I'd head straight for the nearest lifeboat station...I doubt if I'd be able to remember which one was really MY station, and I doubt anyone else would either. The one comfort is that there are extra life jackets near the lifeboats. I also wouldn't worry too much about having a life jacket, if I were able to get to a life boat. That's just me, though.

Hopefully, you will have your KTTW card, as your muster station is printed in large font on the front.

Not so. I have completed 2 ironman triathlons that included a 2.4 mile swim in open water.

I hope your ship does not sink 2.5 miles from shore! Or in cold water.

"Wearing a life jacket - that one simple choice - could save as many as 84% of the boating fatalities who drowned. "​

 

[SeaSpray]

edited to remove double post (an hour later, not sure how that happened!!!)

 

[Mr D]

Wow what a tragedy, its being said on a few other forums that its been 100 years since the Titanic and still history can repeat itself from human error.

A simple matter of putting on the show for the local residents by sailing close to show apparently got too close to submerged rocks.

Other people say its an electrical phasing problem that pretty much had the same effects as an on board EMP attack disabled everything momentarily.

Eventually it will come to light if it was indeed a malfunction or if it was the captains showboating.

Sadly we still see reports of captain and crew fleeing the ship first though nothing like has been see such as the sinking of another vessel off of Africa years ago.

I foresee some very interesting changes approaching the cruise ship companies, perhaps the crews will be more trained to stay or perhaps the laws will change requiring full lifeboat rehersals immediately after ship boarding, or something like a TSA will do it ahead of time.

(I know I will be dammed and cursed here but I will never, ever do a ship cruise, unless I own the boat)

 

[Rogillio]

I hope I am never in an emergency situation with you. Judging from the arrogance found in your posts, I am quite sure you are the kind of person who would interfere with the folks who are trained and responsible for your (and my) safety, likely delaying the launch of my lifeboat for hours.

Yes, there are many people who haven't seen a life vest, and still more who have never put one on. Even those who have worn one may not know they are properly worn, so if they had to depend on their vest to stay afloat it may not keep their head above water. It is the cruise line's responsibility to make sure all aboard know how to don their vest properly.


I agree that it is too soon to judge the Captain, crew or the ship. papers want to make big headlines, and authorities do not want to look ineffective. I think the European equivalent of the NTSB will have better information about this.

I am very curious about the ship being on the wrong side of the island. Do you have a link that shows where the ship was supposed to be?

There are life jackets stored in cabinets and under benches on deck 4, so I would suppose that if you can't get to your stateroom, you could still go directly to your stateroom.

As for not having enough time to go get your life vest, this ship had a 150 foot gouge in her side below the waterline, but there was enough time to wait 45 minutes before starting emergency procedures, and wait 2 hours for the lifeboat to descend. It is rare that a ship goes down "in minutes," even rarer considering that cruise ships don't have powder magazines and are unlikely to take a 15 inch shell from the Bismark.

MS Explorer, after striking an iceberg, took 20 hours to sink. All passengers and crew survived after taking to the lifeboats.

Sun Vista took seven hours to sink after catching fire. All passengers and crew survived after entering the lifeboats.

Passengers of the Achille Lauro had seven hours to abandon ship after it caught fire, with just two lost lives during the transfer from ship to life raft to rescue ship.

Hopefully, you will have your KTTW card, as your muster station is printed in large font on the front.


I hope your ship does not sink 2.5 miles from shore! Or in cold water.

"Wearing a life jacket - that one simple choice - could save as many as 84% of the boating fatalities who drowned. "

If you don't agree with my opinions you are free to disagree and state your own opinion but please no not levy a blanket characterization of my posts as "arrogant".

 

[mmouse37]

Everyone is entitled to their opinions.....but there is no need to attack another poster...you can agree or not agree but no snarky remarks or name calling....next post like that will get a violation.

MJ

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

There are life jackets stored in cabinets and under benches on deck 4, so I would suppose that if you can't get to your stateroom, you could still go directly to your stateroom.

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