On January, 13, 2012, the 4,200 passengers and crew of the Costa Concordia set sale for Mediterranean cruise. On the first night, ship Captain Schettino steered the massive ship close to the Tuscan island of Giglio. The ship struck a rock which then ripped a gaping hole in the side of the boat. Tragically, at least 16 cruise ship deaths would soon follow, with many more still missing.
Both the media and the ship’s owners, Costa Cruises, have been quick to imply that Captain Schettino was at fault for the crash and subsequent deaths and maritime injuries. The Captain, however, implies that he was obeying the requests of Costa Cruises officials. So who is to blame for this tragedy? The following are some key aspects to the debate:
- The Captain states that a manager of Costa Cruises pressured him to maneuver close to the shore
- The Captain reports that the rock did not show up on his instruments
- Costa Cruises has admitted that ships have travelled close to shore in the past in an effort to “enrich the product”, but claim this is only done under safe conditions
- Costa Cruises denies that Captain Schettino’s actions were authorized, stating travelling that close to shore at that speed is not safe
- Costa Cruises has suspended the Captain
- Records have proven that the company authorized a very similar cruise ship route as recently as August 2011
Regardless of who is ultimately to blame, this tragic accident ended in a devastating loss of life.
If you or a loved one was injured in a cruise ship accident, it is essential that you contact a
Birmingham maritime lawyer to represent your rights. The attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom, P.L.L.C. are experienced representing injured cruise ship passengers. For more information and a free consultation, call (877) 724-7800.
Category: Maritime Injuries Resources
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