January 18th, 2012 Sinking Cruise Ship
As you’ve probably heard over the past couple of days,
an Italian cruise ship the Costa Concordia, sank after
hitting a reef near the island of Giglio, near Tuscany.
There are various reports that the captain sailed too
close to the island, after diverting from his proper
route. One report says he went close to the island
as a favour to his head waiter who came from there,
while another claims that he wanted to give the
islanders a light show of the ship’s lights.
Whatever the truth of the matter, it is certain that
the Cost Concordia was not in the usual deep water
channel proper to the ship’s size.
After the order to abandon ship was given, the Captain
is alleged to have been in a lifeboat, claiming to be
co-ordinating the rescue of the passengers from there.
Whatever happened to the captain being the last person
off a stricken ship, or even going down with it?
Not that one would have expected him to die, when he
could have been rescued, but surely he could have done
more to rescue the passengers?
The Italian Coast Guard appears to be incensed by his
behaviour, according to reports in the press.
Most passengers who died were trapped in their cabins,
because of a card key system which failed when power
was lost after the ship ran aground. Surely the
default position for no power could have been “Unlocked”
instead of “Locked” to ensure passenger safety?
The captain is currently under house arrest, and further
investigations are being undertaken. We shall await
with interest the outcome of this tragedy, which by all
accounts seems to be caused by human error, if not by
dereliction of duty.