The Costa Concordia, a massive cruise ship, sank off the coast of Italy on January 13, 2012, after hitting underwater rocks. The ship, carrying 4,229 people, had deviated from its planned route to perform a "salute" maneuver, bringing it too close to the shore. The captain, Francesco Schettino, ordered a 20° right turn too late, resulting in a 60-meter crack in the hull. The ship lost power, and despite initial assurances that the situation was under control, it became clear that the ship was sinking.
Chaos and panic ensued as passengers and crew scrambled to evacuate. The captain and some crew members left the ship early, while others were left stranded. 32 people died in the disaster, with many trapped in elevators or unable to escape due to the ship's listing.
The rescue operation was complex and costly, with the ship eventually being righted and towed to a port, where it was dismantled. The captain was found guilty of abandoning ship and causing the disaster, and was sentenced to 16 years and one month in prison. The incident highlighted the importance of safety protocols and responsible leadership in preventing such tragedies.
1. The Costa Concordia was a cruise ship that was ordered in 2004 and cost $570 million to build.
2. The ship was 290 meters long and had 13 open decks.
3. The ship had a total capacity of 4,890 people.
4. The captain of the ship was an Italian who had been working for the company since 2002.
5. On January 11, 2012, the ship began a 7-day Mediterranean tour.
6. The ship stopped in New Sicily and then headed towards Italy.
7. On Friday the 13th, the ship set sail again, but deviated from its official route.
8. The ship came close to the island of Giglio, and at 9:44 PM, the side of the ship hit underwater rocks.
9. A 60-meter crack opened in the hull of the ship, causing power to be lost.
10. The ship's engines stopped working, and the emergency generators were activated.
11. Passengers were informed that the situation was under control, but this was not true.
12. The ship took on water, and three compartments were flooded.
13. The captain ordered the crew to prepare for evacuation, but this was delayed.
14. At 10:07 PM, the coast guard contacted the ship, but the captain downplayed the situation.
15. The crew eventually abandoned ship, and the passengers were left to fend for themselves.
16. The ship was at an angle of more than 25 degrees to the starboard side, making it difficult to launch lifeboats.
17. Many passengers had to jump into the sea to escape the sinking ship.
18. In total, 32 people died in the disaster.
19. The ship was eventually righted and taken to a port, where it was dismantled.
20. The rescue operation cost $1.5 billion.
21. The captain was sentenced to 16 years and one month in prison for abandoning ship.
22. The total cost of the disaster was estimated to be $2 billion.