Does anyone else not piling on the Concordia Captain

[DCLSecondChance]

What did he do? Didn't call for help. Told them to go back to their rooms. Ordered dinner. Left. .

There is absolutely zero evidence of this.

 

[ranidayz]

There is absolutely zero evidence of this.

Why do you say that? The Italian Coast guard has no record of him signalling Mayday or telling them that there was anything other than a black out. Evidence. The chef and his staff received an order from the Captain for dinner AND dessert AFTER the collision. Evidence. He left the ship (or catapulted right into a lifeboat as luck would have it according to him) and refused to return to the ship according to the recorded transcript from the Italian Coast Guard. Evidence. (In fact, the Mayor of the town actually boarded the ship to try to coordinate the rescue effort - so he could obviously get on the ship.) There is a video of a staff member relaying the Captain's order for the passengers gathered to exit the ship to go back to their rooms. Evidence.

 

[ranidayz]

Who on this board has not accidently tripped and fallen into the lifeboat?? I hate it when that happens IMHO... he's a coward, I think he left because he knew he screwed up BIG TIME.

Let's not forget that he ordered dinner from the Chef after hitting the "rocks" - which by the way - are as big as half of my house. The only other tip off would have been if he's asked for them to be delivered to a lifeboat.

 

[DCLSecondChance]

Why do you say that? The Italian Coast guard has no record of him signalling Mayday or telling them that there was anything other than a black out. Evidence. The chef and his staff received an order from the Captain for dinner AND dessert AFTER the collision. Evidence. He left the ship (or catapulted right into a lifeboat as luck would have it according to him) and refused to return to the ship according to the recorded transcript from the Italian Coast Guard. Evidence. (In fact, the Mayor of the town actually boarded the ship to try to coordinate the rescue effort - so he could obviously get on the ship.) There is a video of a staff member relaying the Captain's order for the passengers gathered to exit the ship to go back to their rooms. Evidence.

Nope no evidence of all of any of these things. Nothing but reporting and accusations that have yet to be proven. As far as the staff member saying go back to their rooms. Where is the evidence this order came from the captain?

 

[ranidayz]

Nope no evidence of all of any of these things. Nothing but reporting and accusations that have yet to be proven. As far as the staff member saying go back to their rooms. Where is the evidence this order came from the captain?

Exactly what do you require as evidence? These are people who work for the captain who have said these things happened. The recording is of the captain. The Chef got the order from the captain. Maritime law DOES say the Captain is ultimately in charge...and ultimately to blame. And good lord, man, I would not want this on my shoulders because this man decided to do things that left a mother without her five year old daughter and families without their loved ones because he wanted to wave to someone.

The EVIDENCE is probably lying at the bottom of the sea at this point because the conditions are too bad to find the EVIDENCE any longer.

I will conceed and say that a good portion of the blame lays on Carnival for totally under-supervising their staff and allowing someone so unstable to come to the helm and be in charge. I can only hope that this leads to some serious upchange in the entire cruise industry.

And one more thing about your covetted evidence - all evidence is one person's accounting and records against someone elses...and your captain's evidence was sitting in a lifeboat "in shock" while the passengers were struggling on the sinking ship that he crashed fighting to stay alive - which some did not.

 

[gotomu212]

Here's my take. He has a professional obligation to be on that ship and to help ensure his passengers are safely evacuated. In some countries this is also a legal obligation, and I believe Italy is one of these countries. He was not on that ship as per the TAPED phone conversation between himself and the coast guard.

In a conversation I likened it to a surgeon who has made a gross mistake in the operating room. If that surgeon panics and runs out of the room without performing CPR or other life saving measures, he is legally responsible for the death. Regardless if the operating mistake was truly his mistake or an unforeseen condition.

The mistake (in the surgeon's case) or collision (in the ship's case) is a matter that has to be investigated and recreated and the fault takes longer to determine, but whether that surgeon left the room or in this case the captain left the ship is a very easy fact to determine and there lies his ethical and potentially criminal crime.

 

[bigedwin]

Enought already!
People have died!
Families have been destroyed by this "accident"
At this point nobody here has the facts!
There is plenty of evidence physical and first hand in Italy!
When the captain has his day in court we will all know the Facts!
Till then let the families and friends of the dead grieve!
And let the families of the survivors deal with what could have been and what is!

The responsibles will be judged.

 

[reimero]

There is a great deal we do not know. There is a good deal we do know. We know the captain has ultimate responsibility for everything that happens on the ship. We know the ship had diverted from its planned course to a more risky course. We know there was a navigational miscalculation which brought the ship closer to the rocks than it should have been, ultimately resulting in a wreck. We know it took about an hour between when the ship struck the rocks and when evacuations began. And we know that the ship was listing by the time evacuations began.

What is relevant here is that the ship wrecked when it diverted from its designated course, and that is always going to fall squarely on the captain's shoulders. Was the captain in shock over what happened? Almost certainly. There are so many conflicting reports over what happened next that I'm inclined to believe reports that he essentially froze while trying to figure out what to do (especially regarding evacuation.)

Yes, the cruise line is going to throw the captain under the bus, and yes, the captain is going to say he was following procedure. But at the end of the day, whether or not it's the captain's fault, it's the captain's fault.

My personal belief is that he panicked and became indecisive, then as the situation got more serious, his indecision dug him deeper and deeper and he just tried to get away from the whole thing.

 

[Justacruiser]

I am a Retired Army Soldier and I find this whole issue black and white. The Captain caused the accident by his own testimony. He left the ship, in shock or not. He still left the ship and I will bet 100 bucks his girlfriend was with him. When Soldiers are in shock, they don't lie or work around the facts linke this guy. As a LEADER he should have wanted to get back on board to help save lives that he put in danger.

We have Soldiers without legs or arms due to war and still they want to go back and serve. This Captain IF in shock (which I don't believe) should have done the right thing and got back on board. Think of those firefighters that rush back into a burning building.

And finally, to tell the passangers it was a black out IS NOT from a person in SHOCK. It is a plan to cover up an accident. It was a little too big to cover I think.

This is kinda like a drunk driver who gets behind the wheel and drives and then kills someone. The individual never set out to kill anyone, but the situation he/she put themselves in helped contribute to the accident. So, no detour, no steering error, no attempt to cover, co abandon his ship, no deaths and every would have enjoyed their cruise.

 

[ccourtney]

Here is what we do know. The "captain" veered off the normal course and steered the ship dangerously close to shore, at which time it hit large rocks. The Captain jumped, or FELL (really- right into a lifeboat???) as the ship and it's passengers were in peril. This man was supposed to be a professional. Thousands of lives were in his hands. It was his duty, after making his bonehead mistake, to put aside his "Shock" and do whatever was necessary to ensure the safety of his passengers. That was his job and his responsibility, both professionally and MORALLY!!!

If you were on a plane that suddenly had engine problems, would you excuse the pilot for parachuting out and leaving the plane to go down because he was in SHOCK? No, you wouldn't. There is no excuse for how that man handled this disaster except that he is a coward. And being a coward is no excuse. Sorry. I don't need to hear any other details. I have those facts.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

No he is not. I am saying I refuse to believe what the media is saying he has been saying in court. It was an ACCIDENT!!!

I am beginning to think u r related to the captain

 

[ccourtney]

Okay, I'm sure the guy didn't do it with malicious intent. Maybe steering the ship into a bunch of rocks wasn't his GOAL, but he acted like a irresponsible bonehead and his actions caused the death of others. Then he jumped ship. It's like a drunk driver running a pedestrian down and then leaving the scene of the crime! They didn't do it on purpose but they did it anyway and then they they ran due to SHOCK rolleyes. Does that make their crime any less horrible? No, people are still dead due to his actions and he didn't even try to help them. He helped himself. How can anyone defend that?

 

[ranidayz]

I am beginning to think u r related to the captain

or has experienced something similar before.

All of the examples given are good parallels:

The surgeon who makes and error....the surgeon is still responsible - he can't leave.

The pilot whose plane is under duress... the pilot is still responsible - he can't leave.

The teacher whose class is under attack... the teacher is still responsible - he can't leave.

In the end, the person in charge is still the person in charge. That doesn't make them less scared or fearful, it just renders them more responsible.

 

[disdel]

removed - in agreement with bigedwin's post above.

 

[glasslipper]

I am beginning to think u r related to the captain

I was going to suggest the same thing

 

[Liza111577]

I just listened to the conversation the coast guard had with Schettino. I listened to it on an italian website, in italian and no subtitles. I was raised in Italy, went to elementary and highschool there, so I think it's safe for me to say I understand italian very well.

I'm sorry if I'm not using the correct terminology for the ship/rescue/etc. I'm translating it the best I can.

Also want to make it clear that when De Falco is swearing, he's not swearing at Schettino, or calling him names.

Basically this is what was said:
De Falco calls Schettino and tells him that he is recording this conversation. Tells Schettino to speak louder, he can't hear him. Tells Schettino that there are people trapped on the ship and to take his life boat to the bow of the ship and to take the ladder up and to let him know how many people are on the ship.
Schettino says the ship is on its side
De Falco: if there are people coming down from that ladder, then you can go up that ladder; get back on the ship and tell me how many people are on the ship and what they need, tell me if there are children, women or people in need of assistence! And you need to tell me the number of each of these categories! Is that clear?! Look Schettino, you've probably saved yourself from the sea, but you haven't saved yourself from me. Get back on the ship (expl)
Schettino: Captain, please....
De Falco: No, pleases! You are now going on board! Assure me you're going on board!
Schettino: I'm here with the emergency boats, I'm right under here, I haven't gone anywhere, I'm here
De Falco: And what are you doing there captain?
Schettino: I'm here coordinating the rescue
De Falco: What are you coordinating from there??! Go on board and coordinate the rescue from the ship! Are you refusing?Schettino: No, no, I'm not refusing
De Falco: Are you refusing to go on board captain?Schettino: No, no, I'm going
De Falco: Well then tell me why you're not going!?
Schettino: I'm not going because there's another rescue boat that is stopped in the way
De Falco: You go on board!! You don't have to make other statements, you've declared the (abandon ship)! You are no longer in charge now captain! I'm in charge! Go on board! Is that clear! Do you not hear me?!
Schettino: No, no I hear you. I'm going!
De Falco: Call me when you're on board! I have an aero rescue person on board
Schettino: Where is your rescue person?
De Falco: My rescue person is on board, he's on the bow! Go!
Schettino: Ok
De Falco: there are cadavers already Schettino! Go!Schettino: How many are there?
De Falco: I don't know! 1 I know of, 1 I was told! You're the one who should be telling me how many there are (expl)
Schettino: do you realize it's dark here and we can't see anything?
De Falco: and do you want to go home Schettino? It's dark and you want to go home? Climb to the bow of the ship with the ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what they need! Now!
Schettino: I'm with the second in charge.
De Falco: Then both of you go! You and your second in charge, go on board now! Is that clear?
Schettino: captain, I want to go on board, simply the other boat here....there are other rescuers, it just stopped and isn't moving, I just called other rescuers.
De Falco: It's an hour that you're telling me this! Go on board now, go on board and tell me how many people there are!
Schettino: Ok captain.
De Falco: Go now!

And he hangs up.

Second call

...... I will update second call from home (running out of time from work!!)
That's if anyone is interested in the translation of the calls. I haven't researched the U.S. based websites so I don't know if there are transcripts of the convo and how well they're translated.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I'm very interested ... most transcripts have been edited. Thanks very much!!

 

[Liza111577]

As promised here is the second phone call placed by De Falco:

Schettino: Hello?
De Falco: Captain, it's De Falco from Livorno
Schettino: Ok, so I have even alerted the company, they're telling me that there are passengers on board, I think about a hundred people, but I repeat.....
De Falco: Captain, you can't give me an exact number? You think about a hundred?
Schettino: Well, I can't give you an exact number because, let me explain, while we were evacuating all the passengers.....now all our officials.... now we're all reunited here on the rescue boat. I know this makes no sense, but it's exactly what he's saying.
De Falco: Where are you?? On the rescue boat, all the officials/officers?
Schettino: Yes, it's me, the second officer
De Falco: No wait, I'm sorry, earlier it was just you and the second officer, if the other officials were able to get down to you....
Schettino: Yes, they...
De Falco: That means that they could still move
Schettino: Yes, in fact now...
De Falco: Well then why don't they go back on board to see what the situation is like and then let us know? Thank you
Schettino: Now they can't....
De Falco: Send them on board! Send someone on board to coordinate
Schettino: But I'm coordinating....
De Falco: I'm giving you an order captain, you need to send someone on board!
Schettino: We're going to go on board to coordinate
De Falco: Exactly! You need to go on board to coordinate
Schettino: But we can't really go on board now, the ship, the way it is now...
De Falco: Why did you let them come down captain?
Schettino: What do you mean I let them come down? We abandoned the ship!
De Falco: And with a hundred people on board you abandon the ship? (Expl)
Schettino: I didn't abandon any ship with a hundred people, because the ship fell over so fast and we were catapulted in the water.
De Falco: We shall see later what has happened. But now let me know everything that happens for every thing. Stay there in the rescue boat and don't go anywhere! Is that clear?
Schettino: We're here captain, we're here

That's it.

I would also like to add that the reason the italian coast guard finally got involved and realized something was wrong was because of a passenger's phone call, an old lady who called her family when the lights went out. The family called the coast guard who in turn called the ship, they told the coast guard it wasn't a big deal and that there was a problem with the generator. The coast guard called the family back to let them know not to worry and to call their grandma back and let her know. When the family called the passenger on board at this point the lady was frantic saying that the ship was tilting and things were falling all over the place. Family called the coast guard back and got things in motion. This is what the news has reported in Italy.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I would also like to add that the reason the italian coast guard finally got involved and realized something was wrong was because of a passenger's phone call, an old lady who called her family when the lights went out. The family called the coast guard who in turn called the ship, they told the coast guard it wasn't a big deal and that there was a problem with the generator. The coast guard called the family back to let them know not to worry and to call their grandma back and let her know. When the family called the passenger on board at this point the lady was frantic saying that the ship was tilting and things were falling all over the place. Family called the coast guard back and got things in motion. This is what the news has reported in Italy.

That really sounds bad if the coast guard was informed by a passengers family about this. It's defiantly worse then having all senor officers leave the ship and only having the cruise Director in charge.

 

[Toddymae]

You are innocent until proven guilty.

Really? What planet do you live on? When you go into a court -- you know that you're going to be lied too. The lawyers will lie, the witnesses will lie, the media will lie - you have agreed to be lied too. In the real world 'you're guilty' and you'll do and say anything to get yourself out of the situation. So to even think that you'll 'no the truth' when this goes to court - well, lot's of luck!


What is truly remarkable about this situation -

How many officers are on a ship that size? NOT ONE of them took command. NOT ONE. No one said - the Captain is not taking command and someone must take over. No one said - ME - I take command.

How do you raise to the rank of Captain and not have the ability to lead your crew? How did any of those officers raise to command and not have the ability to lead? Is Canaveral so stupid that they could not see that these men were unfit for this duty? There is no other words but UNFIT.

The whole cruse industry had better use this as a wake-up call. Cruising has never been this popular. Ships have never been this large. Never have so many people been on a ship that can be considered a small city. (Troop ships aside). They had better get their house in order or these types of incidents will may be more common place. The industry has too many ship to be staffed -- can why wait the 20/25 years to hire seasoned Captains? How many experience Captains want to sail on a cruise ship?? How do you train people for leadership roles?

Is it human nature? - is it flight or fight? All I know is that when the World Trade Center was falling down brave men and women ran into buildings to save people they didn't even know. In total disregard for their own lives - they run head long into danger to save people.

This Captain must live the rest of his life knowing what he did. That maybe punishment enough.