Tag: Costa Concordia

Environmental risk for the island of Giglio is very high! As the Costa Concordia shifted dangerously on Monday, Italy's environment minister raised the prospect of an environmental disaster if the 2,300 tonnes of fuel on the half-submerged cruise ship leaks.The ship's fuel tanks were full, having just left the port of Civitavecchia, north of Rome, for a week-long Mediterranean cruise, when it ran aground on Friday.Rescue workers have recovered six bodies from the vessel and officials say 16 of the 4,200 passengers and crew are missing.The area were the ship capsized, off the island of Giglio, is a natural maritime park noted for its pristine waters, varied marine life and coral. It is known worldwide as an excellent diving site."The environmental risk for the island of Giglio is very, very high," Environment Minister Corrado Clini told reporters in Rome. "The aim is to prevent the fuel leaking out of the ship. We are working to avoid this. It is urgent and time is running out."The 290-metre-long ship is resting on an undersea ledge in 15-20 meters of water but salvage workers fear it could slip down the slope, which falls away sharply into much deeper water.The ship shifted on its ...

The survivors from the Costa Concordia came from many different countries including Britain, France, South Africa and the USA.

Italy Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Captain Francesco Schettino Speaking to the Media

Cruise Ship Crew Is Criticized A sixth body has been found in the wreckage of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that capsized off the coast of Tuscany as rescue workers continue searching for survivors in the part of the ship that is above water.The sixth body to be found on the cruise ship Costa off Giglio is still unidentified, though it has been confirmed by Italian news outlet Ansa that the man was a passenger on the ship. The man was found on the second deck in a part of the ship which was not flooded by water. He had his life vest on.Sixteen people are still unaccounted for after the Costa Concordia, which was carrying 4,234 passengers and crew, hit rocks Friday evening near Giglio, a small island off the coast of Tuscany. Investigators say the ship was an "incredibly close" 150 meters (roughly 500 feet) from the shore.The bodies of two passengers found wearing life jackets aboard the ship were identified Sunday, officials said. Both passengers were elderly men -- one Italian, the other Spanish. The bodies were found earlier Sunday near a gathering point in the submerged part of the luxury liner. Gregorio Borgia/AP PhotoItalian firefighters' scuba ...

Costa Concordia tragedy

The Captain abandoned first sunken cruise ship Costa Concordia

Costa Concordia tragedy

IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu expresses his condolences IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has expressed his condolences and sympathy for all those caught up in tragic accidents involving ships over the weekend.Speaking at the opening of the IMO Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety today (16 January 2011) Mr Sekimizu said, "I wish to express my sincere condolences and sympathy on behalf of IMO to the families of those who have lost their lives the cruise ship Costa Concordia.""Further, I appreciate the Italian Coast Guard for their rescue operations over the night of the accident and the continued efforts deploying patrol boats, tugs, helicopters as well as diver teams, which have resulted in the highest number of people rescued in the history of the Italian Coast Guard.""Causes of this accident are still not yet established. We must wait for the casualty investigation and should not pre-judge or speculate at this stage. I would like to urge the Flag State administration to carry out the casualty investigation covering all aspects of this accident and provide the findings to the IMO under the provisions of SOLAS as soon as possible," he said.He added "IMO must not take this accident lightly. We ...

Costa Concordia had 'no safety problem' The Chairman and CEO of Costa Cruises disavowed the captain of a capsized cruise ship, saying his actions had contravened company rules and caused the accident in which at least 6 people were killed."The company disavows such behaviour that caused the accident by deciding to deviate the ship from its ideal route," Pier Luigi Foschi told a press conference.He said cruise ships such as the Costa Concordia, which ran aground and capsized off Italy's west coast at the weekend with more than 4,000 people on board, had "no safety problem"."These ships are ultra-safe. It is an exceptional event, which was unforeseeable," he said.Source: Reuters