Main cause of the casualty is attributed to the Master’s unconventional behavior
The captain of Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off Italy on January 2012, will face manslaughter charges in trial, scheduled to take place in Italy, on July 9th, 2013, BBC reports
Capt.Francesco Schettino is accused of negligence that led to the grounding of the ship and for abandoning the vessel while a rescue of the 4,229 passengers and crew was still underway.
The ship capsized as a result of large-scale internal flooding from a 53-meter long breach of its hull involving five watertight compartments. The breach occurred when the ship allided at a speed of 16 knots with the Scole Rocks off Giglio Island in the Tyrrhenian Sea at 21 45 07 local time.
According to Costa Concordia Investigation Report, which recently published by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the main cause of the casualty is attributed to“the Master’s unconventional behavior”.
The incident resulted in the death of 32 persons and the injury of 157 others, as well as the loss of the ship and significant environmental damage.
Reuters reports that if Scettino found guilt, he could face up to 20 years in jail. Prosecutors rejected a plea bargain offer from Schettino last month but accepted those of five other officials, including four ship’s officers and the crisis coordinator of the vessel’s owners, Costa Cruises.
For more information, please click at the following articles
Reuters – Costa Concordia shipwreck captain to face maslaughter trial
BBC – Costa Concordia: Capt Schettino to face trial in Juy
ABC News – Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino to face trial over deadly 2012 crash
