Three killed, Thousands evacuated as Italian cruise ship runs aground

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/14/italian-cruise-ship-runs-aground
<snip>
At least three people have been killed and thousands evacuated from a cruise liner after it ran aground off the Italian coast.

More than 3,200 holidaymakers from Italy, Germany, France and Britain and 1,000 crew were forced to flee the Costa Concordia in lifeboats when it hit a sandbar on Friday evening near the Tuscan holiday island of Giglio less than two hours after leaving port.

Helicopters and rescue boats were immediately dispatched to pick up those on board. Around 50 people who were trapped on the ship were rescued by helicopter after the ship listed so badly they could not launch lifeboats. Some people jumped overboard in a bid to swim to land as the vessel began to take on water.

The Italian coastguard said at least three bodies had been retrieved from the sea, with at least three more people missing, feared dead.

[marmar]

1. Yikes !!!!

nt

[malaise]

2. Check the pics here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002167364

[hobbit709]

3. Why in the hell was it that close to the shore?

That's not exactly a dock there.

[Bolo Boffin]

4. Got friends that work in the industry.

According to them, Costa was very sloppy in the safety department.

[malaise]

5. Well this one is going to cost them

big time

[Bolo Boffin]

8. Oh, yes.

Wrongful deaths, injurys, loss of property, environmental contamination, the loss of the ship, cancellations...

This has probably destroyed the whole company.

ETA: The article says the evacuation drills were scheduled for 5 pm that evening. I did two contracts aboard cruise ships, and our line (Crystal) always did the drills before sailing. And after my first heavy seas night sailing north to Alaska, I always knew where my lifeboat was. Just unbelievable.

[FarCenter]

9. The owner is Carnival Corporation, operated by Costa Cruises

It has a 100 foot gash in the bottom.

Looks like it would have sunk if it was not aground.

I guess they don't have double hulls and watertight compartments to isolate flooding.

A 100 foot gash should not flood too many compartments in a 900 foot long ship?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Steered closer to the island after the accident to make evacuation easier

The coast guard official, speaking from the port captain's office in the Tuscan port of Livorno, said the vessel "hit an obstacle" — it wasn't clear if it might have hit a rocky reef in the waters off Giglio — "ripping a gash 50 meters (160 feet) across" in the side of the ship, and started taking on water.

The cruise liner's captain, Paolillo said, then tried to steer his ship toward shallow waters, near Giglio's small port, to make evacuation by lifeboat easier. But after the ship started listing badly, lifeboat evacuation was no longer feasible, Paolillo said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gRZIWyfwdsvTEhuf_9HxHti8joaw?docId=0b26cb0e5bba4c7b9162bc08c8a93490

[malaise]

11. See post 7

Could it have been a land mine from WW2?

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Someone said there's a picture where you can see a rock still in the hole

I've heard nothing about explosions, and any mine large enough to do that much damage would be loud, I'd think. I think hitting rocks at speed is the most likely cause. And I think uncleared mines in a highly frequented bit of sea, after 70 years, would be unlikely.

(And if it were a mine, it wouldn't be a 'land' one )

[malaise]

15. Bwaaaaaaaaaaah hahahaha

a sea mine??

I read somewhere that there was a loud noise but that could be anything.

I might go down on a ferry but it would never be on a cruise. I hate that crap so much.

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. Here's a web page with the rock picture

http://gcaptain.com/loss-electrical-power-costa-concordia/?37470

[malaise]

25. Unbelievable

Thanks

[taterguy]

7. 70 years should be enough time to sweep the World War II mines

I'm not buying the official story.

Sandbar my ass.

[malaise]

10. Interesting take

Word is that over 70 people are missing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/14/italian-cruise-ship-runs-aground
<snip>
Rescue teams are combing the waters around a cruise liner that ran aground off the Italian coast in search of 70 people missing after thousands were evacuated from the stricken vessel.

Three people – two French passengers and a Peruvian crewman – have been confirmed dead after the Costa Concordia hit a sandbar on Friday evening near the Tuscan holiday island of Giglio, less than two hours after leaving port.

More than 3,200 holidaymakers – from Italy, Germany, France and Britain – and 1,000 crew were forced to flee the liner, which is now half submerged.

[IDemo]

13. Still another reason I'd never go on a cruise

Not that my idea of a good time is watching tipsy folk in their 70's do the Macarena.

[malaise]

17. Same here

Just the idea of being confined with thousands of strangers is more than I need

[Joe the Revelator]

19. You're missing out.

[shanti]

14. update

apparently, there are way more than 3 people missing/dead:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/13/4186629/reports-cruise-ship-aground-off.html

[malaise]

16. Yep I added a new link

from the same Guardian.

[Joe the Revelator]

18. The Captain has been arrested per CNN....nt

[malaise]

20. Any reason given? n/t

[Joe the Revelator]

21. None, I just got a breaking news update on my phone.

[IcyPeas]

22. manslaughter and abandoning ship and didn't send a mayday in time

[malaise]

23. Good report and video here

http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/14/10156346-captain-of-cruise-ship-that-ran-aground-off-italy-arrested-report