Disaster at Sea

Cruise liner captain to stand trial over shipwreck

George Hatcher — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:30:41 +0000

The captain of the Costa Concordia cruise liner that hit rocks and sank off Tuscany last year, killing 32 people, will go on trial in July.
Francesco Schettino faces criminal charges including multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship before all the 4,229 passengers had been evacuated.
The trial will open July 9 in Grosseto, the city nearest to the site of the wreck. Schettino is accused of recklessly steering the ship too close to the Giglio island

Cruise liner captain to stand trial over shipwreck Newstrack India
Italian Cruise Ship Captain to be Tried for ManslaughterNational Review Online
Heavy Metal Rocks in Europe’s Cruise Market Businessweek

Costa Concordia captain ordered to face trial

George Hatcher — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:34:59 +0000

A judge in Italy has ordered the captain of the Costa Concordia to stand trial in the shipwreck of the cruise liner, which struck a reef off Tuscany last year, killing 32 people.Francesco Schettino will be the only defendant in the trial, which begins on July 9 in the Tuscan town of Grosseto. The indictment was announced on Wednesday. Read More

Costa Concordia captain ordered to face trial USA Today

A Quadcopter’s-Eye View Of The Costa Concordia Shipwreck

Judge in Italy orders trial for captain over shipwreck of Costa Concordia

July trial for Costa Concordia captain

Drone Video of the Costa Concordia

George Hatcher — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:13:12 +0000

Aerial footage of the Costa Concordia wreck

Costa Concordia probe eyes board members

George Hatcher — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:05:11 +0000

Italian cruise company Costa Crociere board members are under investigation, lawyers for passengers on the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship said. Attorneys for Justice for Concordia said Saturday the investigation involves allegations of collusion in the 2012 grounding of the ship, which killed 32 people. Prosecutors confirmed the investigation but told Italy’s ANSA news agency the probe was “an obligatory move.”

Costa Concordia probe eyes board members UPI
Costa Concordia Captain Schettino sought a plea bargain, rejected Digital journal

Towing Away The Costa Concordia Cruise Ship

George Hatcher — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:10:46 +0000

Todd Busch, who is overseeing the removal of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, explains to host Dick Gordon how the vessel is expected to be towed away by December this year. Also in this show: Benji Smith and Emily Lau were celebrating their honeymoon aboard the Costa Concordia cruise ship when it started sinking…

Towing Away The Costa Concordia Cruise Ship thestory
New Costa Concordia Updates Newscom Focalpoint

Italian prosecutors reject Concordia captain’s plea bargain

George Hatcher — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:53:38 +0000

TThe closed door hearing regarding the 2012 grounding of the Costa Concordia continues in Italy, with prosecutors wanting Captain Francesco Schettino to stand trial for alleged manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship before all 4,200 passengers and crew had been evacuated.Italian prosecutors have also rejected a plea bargain bid by the captain of the Costa Concordia that ran aground off Italy last year, killing 32 people, according to an Associated Press report.

Italian prosecutors reject Concordia captain’s plea bargain bid Travel blackboard

Concordia captain fails in deal bid over crash

George Hatcher — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:02:06 +0000

The captain of the Costa Concordia cruise liner that ran aground off Tuscany last year, killing 32 people, has failed in his bid for a plea bargain. Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all passengers and crew were evacuated.His lawyer, Francesco Pepe, said Schettino had wanted to defend himself at trial, but when the other defendants all sought plea bargains, his defence team sought one, too. Mr Pepe said prosecutors have agreed to plea bargains for all except Schettino. That means Schettino might be the only defendant if a trial is ordered.

Concordia captain fails in deal bid over crashHerald.ie
Drumming up cruise interest The Province
‘Manners police’ to keep Venice tourists in line, effort is sponsored by Costa Crocieregazzettadelsud
Costa Concordia hearing re-openseuronews

Costa Concordia captain denied plea bargain in deadly shipwreck

George Hatcher — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:01:51 +0000

GROSSETO, Italy – Italian prosecutors on Tuesday rejected a plea bargain bid by the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that ran aground off Italy last year, killing 32 people, defense lawyers said. Capt. Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all 4,200 passengers and crew were evacuated.Defense lawyer Francesco Pepe said Schettino had wanted to defend himself at a trial but when the five other defendants in the shipwreck off the Tuscan coast all sought plea bargains during a closed-door hearing Tuesday, his defense team decided to change strategy.

Costa Concordia captain denied plea bargain in deadly shipwreck Fox News
Costa Concordia captain back in court Reuters
Costa Concordia hearing re-opens Euronews
Francesco Schettino’s offer to plead guilty in return for a sentence of three years and four months is rejected by prosecutors. Skynews
Costa Concordia suspects want plea bargains Newstalk JB
Costa Concordia captain back in court Brisbane Times
Costa Concordia Captain Schettino sought a plea bargain, rejectedDigitalJournal.com
Plea deal for Costa Concordia captain rejected Telegraph

Costa Concordia captain back in court

George Hatcher — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:59:29 +0000

The captain of the wrecked Costa Concordia ship, Francesco Schettino, enters an Italian court for a pre-trial hearing. The court will decide who should stand trial and under which charges for the Costa Concordia crash, which killed 32 people in January 2012. The hearing is taking place in a theatre in the centre of the Tuscan town of Grosseto to allow a large number of people to attend the proceedings if warranted. Prosecutors are seeking to have Schettino tried on charges including manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. They also want to send five other Concordia officers to trial over the accident. The lawyer representing Francesco Schettino said the captain was feeling depressed. He is a man like everybody else, he is only human, he said. His legal team is set to request a simulation of the wreck using a twin ship or if that’s not possible, a computer simulation. But any additional tests or simulations would further prolong the start of the trial …

Costa Concordia captain back in court
“Company goes free” critique on Costa could be levelled at superyacht sector”

Environmental work continues at Costa Concordia site

George Hatcher — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:37:10 +0000

While the human tragedy of the sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy early last year may have faded from the headlines, work is still underway to prevent the accident becoming an environmental disaster. Specialist drilling and grouting work is being carried out in the protected waters to create the foundations for the platform that will be used to right the 114,000t ship before it is towed away to be scrapped.

Environmental work continues at Costa Concordia site New Civil Engineer