BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 08:15 PM

Bernard-

Thanks for posting that update. If all goes well, it will be at least a month before they pump her dry. But at least they're able to begin.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bernard
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 06:52 PM

Costa Concordia fuel removal operation begins

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 09:35 AM

No, it's not a webcam after all. The camera does pan and zoom as if it is being hand-held.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 12 - 09:28 AM

The source of the above video is somewhat mysterious; no credit is provided. It certainly looks and sounds real. I don't think it was taken by a crew member or guest since there is little movement. Most likely the newspaper managed to get access to a bridge webcam video from a semi-official source.

It's really amazing to view, and especially eery with the emergency bridge lighting. But I wish it hadn't been edited down to five minutes. I suppose at some point we'll get to view the entire video with transcript.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Feb 12 - 10:40 AM

Back to documenting what happened aboard the Concordia. A new TG5 video has just been released that's worth watching: Click here for video!

I'm not sure how long the link will work so here's a summary:

The footage, from the bridge of the ship, shows the captain to be supremely relaxed as the disaster unfolds.

At least 17 people died in the incident and 15 are missing. An American lawyer, John Arthur Eaves, is filing for compensation for the victims and suggested that families of those who died should sue Carnival Cruises for between $1 million and $3 million.
And lawyers will certainly be carefully studying the video, broadcast by Italian network TG5, which shows confusion among the captain and crew on the ship's bridge in the hour after Concordia rammed a reef.

A 50-meter hole was gouged out of the giant liner after it struck a rock close to the island of Giglio at 9.42 pm on 13 January.

At first the crew seem to be calm. But after half an hour, with the ship tilting at a 20-degree angle, panic breaks out among senior crew members.

At 10.25pm a man identified in the video as Captain Francesco Schettino is seen talking on the phone while senior officers struggle to understand what is happening, with at least one shouting out: "What do we do?"

One official is heard saying: "Passengers are getting into the life boats."

A man believed to be Capt Schettino then replies: "Vabbuo", which means "Whatever".

Francesco Verusio, the magistrate leading the investigation into the disaster, told The Independent: "This is new to us – I've just seen it for the first time. We've heard everything that was happening on the bridge."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 05:08 PM

Cruel joke, bud. But, I admire your courage.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Greg B
Date: 10 Feb 12 - 04:18 PM

"...and a draught of 8.20 metres..."

On which side?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 06:59 PM

Thanks Ed T. Six diesel engines supplying electric power to the electric engines to supply the props makes far more sense. That SEEMS to indicate one engine room. And, ergo, perhaps why they were rudderless.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 05:11 PM

Wikki has updated information that says:
""Costa Concordia is 290.20 metres (952 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 35.50 metres (116 ft 6 in) and a draught of 8.20 metres (26 ft 11 in). She is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion with six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 12V46C[14] four-stroke medium-speed diesel generating sets with a combined output of 75,600 kilowatts (101,400 hp) and two 21 MW electric motors connected to fixed-pitch propellers.[15] Her service speed is 19.6 knots (36.3 km/h; 22.6 mph),[9] but during sea trials she could achieve a speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph)"".

Costa Concordia

I asked a navy engineer about what type of power would be needed to operate a rudderless electronic prop steering system,that I understand most cruise ships have. He said "alot of power"
That's why I suspect (though cant seem to confirm) that a back-up generator, to give more power, may have been built into the upper decks. If power was not available for steering, oit would likely mean the delivery system to the props were down, and possibly damaged.

However, I recall the comments of a retired cruise ship captain on the CBC Fifth Estate. He said that cruise ship owners only install the safety equipment that they are required to install. He said something like" if they did not have to put in lifeboats, and had a choice to replace them with balconies that would bring in more money, they would likely do it"

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 04:59 PM

Yes, the thrusters are powered by electric motors. These are fed from the electrical power generated by the engine(s) under normal circumstances. The fact that they can be switched to emergency generators is an added safety bonus even when there are two engines.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 04:53 PM

Ed-

Thanks for posting that information about back-up electrical generators. Good idea that such generators are located above the waterline.

gnu-

Well, it's evident from photos that the on-deck lighting was fully powered after the ship had grounded on the harbour point. And since the bow thrusters were needed to turn the ship around 180 degrees, they most have been powered as well. Don't know if the pumps were powered.

Sounds like the engine room was flooded almost immediately after the initial impact.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 04:45 PM

Generally speaking, most ships have a battery backup which energizes only crtical components until the generators come on. For about 25 to 30 years, automatic transfer switchgear equip have been able to bring generators online within 11 seconds (standard spec). The batteries are, more or less, seamless for critical systems like lighting (lighting on the bridge is minimal... almost dark as the displays provide enough light for crew movement and make the displays sharper) and nav on the bridge, computers, comm, whatever. Very little emergency lighting in the rest of the ship is powered by the batteries... mostly exit lights and very little "guide" lighting.

As for a requirement for a second engine, have you got a link for that? The only specs I have found, as I posted earlier, say : "Engine: Wartsila, 12-cylinder" There is no plural. ONE engine as far as I can search on the net. I have been in engine rooms on twin prop ice breaker class ferries and both engines were in the same room.

It's gonna be a long while before the story is told.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 03:56 PM

Not an official source, and we do not know the details of the Costa Concordia. But, basic information on requirements for a ships emergency back-up power for vital services (such as steering).

Emergency power requirements

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 10:19 AM

This is a nice clip of what the Coast Guard officer said to the Captain when he realized he had already abandoned ship, leaving some 300 passengers and crew still aboard (Wikipedia):

The Corriere Fiorentino subsequently released audio recordings of radio calls in the Italian language from Coast Guard Captain Gregorio Maria De Falco repeatedly ordering Schettino to return to the ship from his lifeboat and assist in the ongoing passenger evacuation. At one point, Di Falco screamed at Schettino, "Vada a bordo, cazzo!"[p 4] (translated as "Get the fuck back on board!" or "Get back on board, for fuck's sake!").

T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "Vada a bordo, cazzo!" are now a best-selling item in Italian stores and on the internet.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 09:09 PM

Ed-

Good question but I suppose it's still too soon to get a definitive answer.

The power certainly went out almost immediately after the initial collision. One engine room was reported flooded by the gash but there's supposed to be a second engine room on this type of boat. They did manage to power the bow thrusters, after the ship had glided to almost a complete stop, to enable the ship to turn around 180 degrees and then drift into shore for grounding. And there certainly was lighting visible along the side of the listing ship when she ultimately ground.

I'm thinking that I recall several major cruise liners which suffered total engine loss after relatively small fires. Whatever happened to back-up systems on these boats?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 05:41 PM

""Could there have been a power failure BEFORE hitting the rocks?""

I believe the question is" why did all the power go out (not why did the ship have a crippling gash in it's side) and why was there no back up power available, as most ships have back up power for basic processes, like steering, at a minimum". A screw up in the electronics seems like one possibility, if similarly constructed ships experienced a similar electrical failure.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 04:55 PM

Charley.... "There is the question you raised above of whether there was a blackout before the ship had its initial collision."

Not me. It was in the previous post that made no sense to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 03:59 PM

gnu-

There is the question you raised above of whether there was a blackout before the ship had its initial collision. According to some reports I've read, the Captain tried to convince an official at Costa headquarters that a prior blackout would be a better cover story but that official has been quoted as "having refused to do that."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:45 AM

Here is a report of Costa Europa hitting a quay in Egypt.
3 crew died.



Among the passengers on board the Costa Europa in 2010 when the accident occurred were Chris and Ron Cleal from Guernsey.

They immediately ran onto the deck where they were met by crew soaked to the waist.

"They were speaking about it being similar to the Titanic - opening bulkhead doors and being hit by a six foot wall of water," Mr Cleal recalls.

The ship had begun to list after hitting the quay and Mr Cleal says when he asked one of the crew whether he should get his life jacket, he was told not to, and that the incident was an exercise.

The Cleals say it took an hour for the captain to inform passengers of what had happened.

During this period Mrs Cleal said she was "absolutely petrified - the crew were all coming up absolutely soaking wet".

"It was obvious that there was a big problem down below," she told the BBC.

It took five hours for the Cleals to be taken off the vessel. During that time they say the only crew they saw were entertainment personnel.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16823955

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Feb 12 - 08:20 AM

Oh, and here's an update on the Molovan dancer headlined "Mystery over Captain's lover deepens": Click here for story!

Oh, damn, the link has grown stale. Here's the juicy bits:

Domnica Cemortan, 25, reportedly told investigators last week that she was "in love" with Capt Francesco Schettino, as it emerged that search and rescue divers had found her lingerie, clothing and make-up bag in his cabin.

But in an interview with Italian television, her aunt insisted that there was no romantic relationship between the two.

"Was my niece Schettino's lover? I really think not. A lot of things in this whole business have been misinterpreted," said Lucica Cemortan Gurina.
"Show me a passenger who took a photo of the two of them caressing, embracing or kissing. I don't believe there is one."

She said her niece certainly "admired" Capt Schettino, whom she met when she worked on the Costa Concordia as a crew member.

"Maybe Domnica saw something in him that she wasn't able to find in others, namely friendship."

Mrs Gurina said her niece had been badly affected by the death of her father, who drowned in 1996.

Ms Cemortan was interviewed for nearly six hours last week by prosecutors in a police station in Grosseto, Tuscany, where the investigation into the January 13 accident is based.


You can't write fiction this bad and get it published!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 10:28 PM

gnu-

Nothing wrong with working on this puzzle. I haven't the engineering skills to figure out what was mechanically happened aboard this ship but I do keep track of other clues.

Evidently Capt. Schettino didn't want to be distracted by any alarms while he was doing his closest encounter with Giglio; he turned off all the automatic warning systems and was navigating by sight alone. Judging distance at night is always more challenging, especially when you're talking to your old mentor on your cell phone at the time. There ought to be a law against a captain using a cell phone while at the helm, during the night, of a major luxury liner.

Sure hate to be judgmental but even Schettino has been quoted as saying he does not expect to ever command a ship again. I wonder if the Moldovan dancer Domnica Cemortan, who shared his cabin, will still stick with him if he's shipless?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 09:37 PM

Oh my. Could there have been a power failure BEFORE hitting the rocks? Why has this never surfaced before?

Smoke and mirrors. If she had been 5 miles off where she should have been none of this would have happened. Power failure or otherwise.

Sorry... I am NO expert or even an avid buff in these matters. Just a guy who worked with similar ships and finds this story compelling.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:45 PM

common design fault ?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:28 PM

DescriptionCosta Concordia is 290.20 metres (952 ft 1 in) long, with a beam of 35.50 metres (116 ft 6 in) and a draught of 8.20 metres (26 ft 11 in). She is equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion with six 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 12V46C[14] four-stroke medium-speed diesel generating sets with a combined output of 75,600 kilowatts (101,400 hp) and two 21 MW electric motors connected to fixed-pitch propellers.[15] Her service speed is 19.6 knots (36.3 km/h; 22.6 mph),[9] but during sea trials she could achieve a speed of 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph).

(WIKI Updated their info.)

Other info, not sure if was linked before:Loss of Electrical Power

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 08:02 PM

Charley... you just answered your own question, MAYBE. He said, "The Costa Concordia is a diesel-electric powered ship which means that a loss of the electrical system also means a loss of engines and steering. This could have caused the ship to go off course and hit the rocks."

Does that make any sense to you? There has never been any report of a power failure prior to the ship hitting the rocks... was there?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 07:49 PM

gnu-

Could you elaborate or is it all too speculative? We know that the ship after the initial collision had a blackout for some period of time and that there was an associated loss of engine power.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 02:43 PM

That Old Salt clearly muddies the waters in that statement. That is, it makes no sense to me. No sense in picking it apart, tho.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Feb 12 - 09:10 AM

I've been wondering why the engines failed after the initial collision. Some insight is provided from The Old Salt's Blog:

"The ship blacked-out after the grounding. Was this cause or effect? The Costa Concordia is a diesel-electric powered ship which means that a loss of the electrical system also means a loss of engines and steering. This could have caused the ship to go off course and hit the rocks. Earlier this year, Cunard's Queen Mary 2, also a diesel electric ship, suffered a black-out due to a failure in the capacitors in the harmonic filters. Thus far, however, we have heard no such reports from the Costa Concordia. The black-out could have been the result of the grounding rather than contributing to it. Pending a further investigation, no one knows."

Clearly at some point back-up generators kicked in, enough to power the ship's bow thrusters and enable her to swing full around and then drift into shore and become hard aground, while repowering the lights.

Charley Noble

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 08:21 PM

Timeline-The Fifth Estate (my remarks in parentheses)
2/3/12

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

Angelo and Danielle Pezzino of Verona, New Jersey, and Andrea and Laurence Davis of Calgary, board the Costa Concordia in Barcelona.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

5:45 p.m. Alan and Laurie Willits of Wingham, Ontario, board the ship in Civitavecchia, a major seaport about 80 km northwest of Rome.

7:45 p.m. Angelo and Danielle Pezzino reach the 11th deck Club Concordia restaurant for an 8 p.m. reservation.

8:30 p.m. The Pezzinos the ship Captain Francesco Schettino and his blonde dinner date enter the restaurant and take a window seat.

9:05 p.m. Captain Schettino is seen leaving the Concordia Club with Domnica Cemortan (doesn't correlate with 9:30), an off-duty ship hostess and translator, and another officer. A witness says the group had consumed at least a decanter of red wine, although Schettino says he drank no alcohol that night.

9:08 p.m. Francesca Tievoli, whose brother Antonelli Tievoli is the ship's chief steward, posts on Facebook: "In a little while the Costa Concordia will sail so close so close ..."

9:30 p.m. Angelo Pezzino sees an officer walk over to Captain Schettino's table and whisper something to him. A few minutes later the officer, the captain, and his dinner date leave the restaurant.

Approximately 9:40 p.m. Captain Schettino allegedly calls Tievoli to the bridge saying: "Antonello, come see, we are very close to your Giglio." Witnesses claim Tievoli, standing on the bridge, tells Schettino: "Careful, we are extremely close to the shore."

9:42 p.m. Captain Schettino is at the helm of the Concordia when he steers the ship into rocks off the island of Giglio while trying to perform an "inchino" or sail-past salute for a former Costa Cruises captain and chief steward Tievoli.

Domnica Cemortan is also on the bridge when the accident happens.

Alan and Laurie Willits, who are watching a magic show in the theatre, are forced out of their seats when the ship suddenly tilts toward the port side. The lights go out and people start leaving the theatre.

9:45 p.m. The ship is listing by seven degrees and some passengers begin to realize that something is wrong and phone relatives. One passenger calls his parents in Tuscany, who call the local Carabinieri, who then call the coastguard in Livorno on the Tuscan coast.

10:05 p.m. Captain Schettino calls his employers, Costa Crociere, to report a problem with the ship.

10:06 p.m. Police in Prato contact the Harbour Master's office in Livorno. They say a woman has called to say her mother is on the Corcordia, that the dining room ceiling has fallen on her and that the crew has ordered passengers to put on life jackets.

10:14 p.m. The Harbour Master contacts the Concordia asking if she is having problems. An officer replies that it's only a blackout which has been going on for 20 minutes and which they will fix shortly. The Harbour Master asks about passengers putting on life jackets, but the officer insists it's only a power outage.

10:16 p.m. Guardia di Finanza (finance police) patrol boat G104 is close to the island of Giglio and asks if it should check the Concordia.

10:17 p.m. The Harbour Master informs superiors there may be more wrong with the Concordia than the ship's officer is letting on.

10:26 p.m. Forty-four minutes after the Concordia's collision, the Harbour Master contacts Captain Schettino. Schettino says the ship is taking on water through an opening on its left side and the ship is listing. He says there are no dead or injured. The Harbour Master asks if he needs help. Schettino requests a tug boat.

10:30 p.m. The ship is listing by 20 degrees.

Mario Pellegrini, deputy mayor of Giglio, arrives at the port after receiving a phone call from the police telling him there was a ship sinking there. He decides to board the ship to help with the rescue effort.

10:34 p.m. Fifty-two minutes after the collision (doesn't correlate with 10:58), the Harbour Master contacts the Concordia, which sends a "distress" message. They are now evacuating the 3,208 passengers and 1,023 crew members from the ship.

10:39 p.m. A Guardia di Finanza patrol boat reports the ship is leaning heavily to one side.

10:44 p.m. One hour after the collision, the Guardia di Finanza reports the Concordia is grounded.

10:45 p.m. Captain Schettino denies the ship is grounded, saying it is floating and that he will try to bring her around.

10:48 p.m. The Harbour Master asks the Concordia to consider abandoning ship. Answer: 'we are considering it'.

10:58 p.m. Twenty minutes after issuing a "Mayday" signal and one hour and 16 minutes after the collision, Captain Schettino tells the Harbour Master he has given the order to abandon ship.

Shortly after 11 p.m. Deputy Mayor Pellegrini climbs aboard the ship using a rope ladder and finds pandemonium as passengers and crew rush the lifeboats.

11:23 p.m. The Concordia reports it has a large tear on its right side.

11:37 p.m. Captain Schettino says there are still 300 people on board.

Approximately 11:58 p.m. Witnesses see Captain Schettino wrapped in a blanket getting on a lifeboat.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

00:10 a.m. Local authorities say there is not enough room for all evacuees on Giglio and that they will begin to transfer them to the mainland.

One hour and 12 minutes after the evacuation order, Laurence and Andrea Davis cannot get into a lifeboat and decide to jump in the water and swim to shore. Laurence's wristwatch stops when it gets wet.

00:12 a.m. The Guardia di Finanza report that lifeboats can't be launched on the left side of the ship.

00:34 a.m. Captain Schettino says he is in a lifeboat and can see three people in the water.

00:36 a.m. The Guardia di Finanza can still see 70 to 80 people on board including children and the elderly.

Approximately 00:30 a.m. Angelo and Danielle Pezzino reach shore.

00:38 a.m. A rescue crew in a helicopter sees many people on board and some in the water.

00:42 a.m. Captain Schettino and all his officers are in a lifeboat. Captain De Falco, who is in charge of the Harbour Master's office, orders them to get back on board to coordinate the evacuation.

00:50 a.m. The Harbour Master's office takes control of the rescue operation.

1.04 a.m. A helicopter lowers an air force officer on board who reports 100 people are still waiting to be rescued.

1:45 a.m. An officer confirms that a rope ladder strung across the hull is safe to use.

1:46 a.m. For a second time Captain De Falco orders Captain Schettino to get back on board using the rope ladder.

2:00 a.m. Laurence and Andrea Davis reach the local Giglio island school which is being used as the rescue shelter.

2:29 a.m. Three people are reported hanging from the prow of the ship.

2:53 a.m. A Guardia di Finanza officer boards the ship using a rope ladder and says that Captain Schettino has been seen heading towards port in a lifeboat.

3:17 a.m. Carabinieri identify Captain Schettino on the quay at the port on Isola Del Giglio without detaining him.

3:44 a.m. An air force officer on board reports there are 40 to 50 people left to evacuate from the ship.

4:22 a.m. The number of passengers remaining on board falls to 30.

4:46 a.m. Six hours after the collision, the ship's evacuation is complete.

5:00 a.m. Captain Schettino calls his 80-year-old mother Rosa, telling her: "Mamma, there's been a tragedy. But don't worry; I tried to save the passengers. I won't be able to phone you for a while. Just stay calm."

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 07:17 PM

I can't seem to get the Fifth Estate video to work; maybe I'm too impatient. However, I've copied their time-line, which I'll reprocess and post later. I'm surprised they don't show a version of this in the States.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 05:50 PM

Fifth Estate


Part of the program that seems to be worldwide?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 05:46 PM

Charley... Fron the CBC program... she was supposed to be 5 miles out but she was 0.5 miles out, under visual control and the captain turned off the alarms which would signal they were too close to rocks that could damage the ship.

The Captain and crew did not warn the passengers... they were told everything was okay but MANY passengers actually went to the lifeboats and got in them. Within minutes, the captain was informed that the engines were gone, the lights were out... it goes on... unreal.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 05:45 PM

Huff


From the Huffington Post

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 02:54 PM

Charley... the CBC vid is only available in Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 02:07 PM

According to Franco Gabrielli, head of the [Italian] Civil Protection Authority, contracts will be let in March to refloat the Concordia, and remove it as a whole.
"By that time [est. end of March] it is hoped that a Dutch company, Smit, will have been able to extract the 500,000 gallons of diesel and heavy oil in the liner's fuel tanks.
"The salvage operation is expected to take up to 10 months, meaning that the ship will spend at least a year wedged on rocks in clear sight of Giglio's main port and settlement."

Another report says a thin film of oil is spreading from the wreck's location.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk, Nick Squires, 03 Feb 2012, "Costa Concordia 'will be refloated and removed whole'."

I have not seen a report on the progress of the oil removal.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 01:33 PM

Charley... if you can eventually access the CBC show you will be shocked. The accepted allowable distance to shore is FAR beyond where the ship struck the rock. Further than where the other Cappy had been as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 10:23 AM

Peter-

Evidently some of us cannot view this Channel 4 video without signing up. Do you have a summary?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 10:20 AM

Here's another snippet update about the captain's thinking that night on the bridge:

An email was found that was sent by Schettino that promised to get closer to the shore than previous captains were able to do. A "contest" had formed to see who could sound the horn of the ship while closest to land. This was done to impress the tourist who were on the island.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 09:37 AM

Channel 4 : Terror at Sea : The sinking of the Costa Concordia

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 09:32 AM

gnu and Ed-

The summary from the CBC Fifth Estate link certainly correlates with what we've been able to harvest on this thread.

This was not an accident but a irresponsible blunder by the captain. The only saving grace is that the consequences could have been worse.

So there's the captain on the bridge in the late evening with his girlfriend, chatting on his cellphone, with the ship tearing along at 15 knots, and he fails to make his turn in time to clear the well-known rocks off the coast of Giglio. Shit!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Ed T
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 09:02 PM

A good documentary Gnu. It was just over, and will likely be online soon.

CBC Fifth Estate

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 08:34 PM

Holy crap! I just watched the first ten minutes of The Fifth Estate on CBC. Unreal. This guy is gonna fry and so may Costa. Emails he sent to another captain about how he was gonna show up the other captain by sailing FAR closer to shore? Just unreal.

I dare say the insurance waivers will be challenged. Gross negligence surely outweighs a waiver of limitation of compensation in case of "accident", no? This was not an accident. It was caused by negligence and or incompetence. According to what just I saw on the TV and have thought all along.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 08:34 PM

'Twas Friday night when we set sail,
And we sank to the bottom of the sea!

Maybe we could base this ballad on the one about the Vasa

Charley Noble.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 05:42 PM

gnu-

Now don't be jumping to any conclusions, as have the prosecutors, and the media.

But I would like to see a few verses.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 02:36 PM

He was gettin his rocks off when the ship struck a rock... oh Lord what a shock... he nearly tumbled over... turned nine times around... and fell into a lifeboat...

Oh, there's a song in there... not a very good one, mind.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bill D
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 11:25 AM

Link to Telegraph story

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 10:28 AM

Does Italy have a "Receiver of Wreck" I wonder?

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 10:20 AM

Well, here's an update on what was found by divers in the captain's cabin:

Divers found the clothing, as well as a beauty case, when they searched the private cabin of Capt Francisco Schettino, 52, who faces charges of abandoning ship and manslaughter, according to La Repubblica newspaper.

The items are believed to belong to Miss Cemortan, a 25-year-old former cruise ship dancer and tourist rep who had dinner with the captain on the evening that he accidentally steered the 950ft long luxury liner into rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio.

Miss Cemortan reportedly told prosecutors in Grosseto, Tuscany, this week that she was "in love" with Capt Schettino, who is married with a teenage daughter.

She was interviewed for nearly six hours on Wednesday by prosecutors in a police station in Grosseto, Tuscany, amid reports that divers had found some of her belongings in Capt Francesco Schettino's cabin.

According to Italian press reports, based on interviews with prosecutors, she said she had fallen deeply for the skipper – despite him having a wife and a teenage daughter.

The link to this Telegraph story no longer seems to work.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 08:23 PM

gnu-

Sad when our old ships are towed off to Deadman's Bay.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Concordia Sinking-2012
From: gnu
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 03:57 PM

Gosh! I just read that the two ferries I sailed on many times were sold and scrapped in India.

Brought a tear to me eyes.