The Cost of Concordia

Summary

The script recounts the tragic story of the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster, detailing the events leading up to the ship hitting rocks on the coast of Giglio Island. It highlights the captain's negligence, the language barrier among the crew, and the ensuing chaos as the ship began to sink. The aftermath includes the captain's arrest, the salvage operation, and the legal battles that followed. The narrative also touches on the thefts that occurred on the ship and the various conspiracy theories that emerged post-incident.

Takeaways

• 💰 The Costa Concordia was a luxurious cruise ship, costing 570 million dollars to build, with various amenities like restaurants, a casino, theater, gym, and spa.
• 🔮 An ominous sign occurred during the ship's premiere when the ceremonial champagne bottle bounced off the ship's side instead of smashing, which is considered a bad omen.
• 👨‍✈️ Captain Francesco Schettino, who had a questionable background including previous collisions, was in charge of the ship during the disaster.
• 🗺️ On January 13, 2012, the ship deviated from its course for a 'sail-past salute' which brought it dangerously close to the island of Giglio, resulting in a collision.
• 🚢 The ship was rated to stay afloat with two compartment breaches, but the collision opened up three, leading to a catastrophic flooding and loss of power.
• 📞 Communication issues, including language barriers and procedural complacency, contributed to the ship's tragic turn towards the rocks.
• 🚨 The crew initially downplayed the severity of the situation to passengers, causing confusion and panic, and delaying the evacuation process.
• 🆘 It took significant time for the captain and crew to issue a proper distress call and abandon ship orders, during which the ship continued to flood and list.
• 👮‍♂️ Captain Schettino faced criminal charges for multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship, and lying to authorities, and was eventually sentenced to 16 years and one month in prison.
• 🔄 The aftermath of the disaster involved a massive salvage operation that took over two years and cost an estimated 1.2 billion dollars to right and recycle the ship.
• 🕊️ Despite the tragedy, there were acts of heroism, such as from naval officer Gregorio De Falco, who was instrumental in the rescue efforts and later became a national hero.

Q & A

What was the Costa Concordia known as before the disaster?

The Costa Concordia was known as the 'ship of dreams' due to its luxurious features such as five restaurants, a casino, a three-story theater, a gym, a day spa, and 1500 luxurious cabins.

How much did it cost to build the Costa Concordia?

The Costa Concordia cost 570 million dollars to build.

What was the significance of the date January 13, 2012, in relation to the Costa Concordia disaster?

January 13, 2012, was the date of the Costa Concordia disaster, and it also happened to be the 100th year anniversary of the Titanic disaster, adding to the tragedy's notoriety.

What was unusual about Captain Francisco Schettino's career progression?

Captain Francisco Schettino had mysteriously risen from the position of head of security to the position of captain within just a couple of years, which was considered unusual.

What was the 'sail by salute' and why was it significant to the Costa Concordia disaster?

The 'sail by salute' was a tradition where the ship would get very close to the shore and honk the horn. It was significant because during this maneuver, the Costa Concordia got closer than ever before, leading to the disaster.

What were the initial problems that arose during the sail by salute maneuver?

The initial problems included a language barrier between Captain Schettino and the helmsman, leading to incorrect relaying of directions, and complacency about procedure, as the standard procedure for giving exact positional coordinates was not followed.

Why was the Costa Concordia's speed of 16 knots a fatal error during the maneuver?

The speed of 16 knots was a fatal error because it made the ship incapable of making the drastic turn required to avoid hitting the rocks, due to the ship's momentum and the time it takes to change direction at such speeds.

What happened to the Costa Concordia after it hit the rocks?

After hitting the rocks, the Costa Concordia suffered a 53-meter gash in its hull, causing thousands of tons of water to pour in. This led to the ship losing propulsion, experiencing a blackout, and eventually listing heavily to one side.

What was the role of the harbour master in the aftermath of the disaster?

The harbour master from Livorno was suspicious of the captain's claims of just a blackout and called for a patrol boat to inspect the ship. He later coordinated rescue efforts when it became clear that the ship was taking on water and listing.

What were some of the controversies surrounding Captain Schettino after the disaster?

Controversies surrounding Captain Schettino included his abandoning of the ship, his alleged affair with passenger Domnica Morton which may have distracted him, and his denial of the severity of the situation in the initial stages of the disaster.