Tag: Italy

The incident resulted in the death of 32 persons and the injury of 157 others The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) released the long awaited English translation of its report on the safety technical investigation into the marine casualty on January 13, 2012 involving the cruise ship Costa Concordia.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.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.Initial findings of the report include the following:Poor route planning and navigation direction;BTW management shortcomings;Poor management of emergency evacuation procedures;EDG functionality CriticalitiesActions to be taken as reported include the following :More detailed passengers info;Voyage plan requested by Solas R V/34 should be made available by the Master to the Company prior ship's departure;Instructions to passengers to be implemented;Muster of passengers to ...

Main cause of the casualty is attributed to the Master's unconventional behavior The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT) released the long awaited English translation of its report on the safety technical investigation into the marine casualty on January 13, 2012 involving the cruise ship Costa Concordia. 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.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.Initial findings of the report include the following:Poor route planning and navigation direction;BTW management shortcomings;Poor management of emergency evacuation procedures;EDG functionality CriticalitiesActions to be taken as reported include the following :More detailed passengers info;Voyage plan requested by Solas R V/34 should be made available by the Master to the Company prior ship's departure;Instructions to passengers to be implemented;Muster of passengers to be ...

Greek and Italian Ports Achieve High Environmental Recognition

Indian Supreme Court reserves verdict on Italy plea in fishermen killing

The city of Naples has approved a plan to make its port more competitive The city of Naples has approved a plan to make its port more competitive, attractive, modern, and eco compatible.The approval of the Port Authority's development plan will unfreeze 240 million euros in EU funding for the project to refurbish the port, which has yearly turnover of 680 million euros and employs 5,000 people.The budget allocates 22 million euros to switching the port to alternative energy, including solar panels. Another 90 million euros will go to connecting the port to the railway system, freeing the city of trucks.The project will also separate the commercial from the tourist sections of the port, which is a major Mediterranean cruise stop with 1.5 million people transiting through every year. ''We must step up the pace of these public works, or we will lose the EU funding,'' Naples Mayor Luigi De Magistris said of the overhaul, which is scheduled to begin in 2013, ending in 2015. ''The port is now the city's major economic resource, and represents many opportunities for businesses and tourism.'' ''We presented this great project to the EU, and we defended it until we got the OK,'' Campania ...

The European Commission has asked Italy to adopt national legislation implementing the latest marine equipment standards, as introduced by EU law. The Commission's request takes the form of a reasoned opinion under EU infringement procedures. If Italy fails to inform the Commission within two months of the measures it has taken to ensure full compliance with EU law, the Commission could refer the case to the European Court of Justice.The EU rulesThe marine equipment directive aims at reaching a uniform application of international standards on marine equipment in the EU and facilitating free movement of marine equipment within the internal market. It applies to items such as lifesaving appliances, fire protection or radio communication equipment on board European ships, guaranteeing a high level of quality and safety. In 2010, the Commission updated the existing rules on marine equipmentThe reason for the actionItaly has failed to notify the Commission of the measures taken to enforce the revised marine equipment rules. These amendments should have been fully transposed by 10 December 2011.The practical effect of non-transpositionThe marine equipment directive is updated on a regular basis to ensure that equipment on board European ships complies with the most up to date requirements. The ...

Italian sailors charged with the murder of two Indian fishermen An Indian court granted bail on Wednesday to two Italian sailors charged with the murder of two Indian fishermen in a case that has caused a major diplomatic rift between Rome and New Delhi.The two marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, were ordered not to leave the port city of Kochi, in the western state of Kerala, while awaiting trial. They will be freed once they each pay bail of 10 million rupees, about $200,000. No date has been set for trial but it is expected to start soon.The sailors were part of a military security team protecting the cargo ship Enrica Lexie from pirate attacks when they opened fire on the fishermen's boat off the coast of Kerala on Feb. 15. Italian officials say the men mistook the fishermen for pirates.The picture of what happened that day is still murky, but investigators say what is clear is that the two fishermen were unarmed and posed no threat to the ship. Italian officials said the fishermen ignored warning shots.The incident has soured relations between Italy and India, with Rome insisting that Latorre and Girone are military personnel and should be ...

Italy worries that this incident could slow the anti-piracy operation Italy said Wednesday that India's detention of two Italian marines charged with killing two fishermen is damaging the international campaign against Somali pirates.Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said UN leader Ban Ki-moon shared his "concerns" during talks late Tuesday about fallout from the diplomatic row between Italy and India over the case.An Indian court on Saturday denied bail to the marines.The February 15 incident took place in international waters and the Italians say they mistook the fishermen for pirates.Italy has withdrawn its ambassador to New Delhi for consultations on the case as the two sides battle over the charges and who should have jurisdiction over the marines.Terzi told reporters that with daily attacks on international shipping, "this episode is already having a very, very negative effect on the anti-piracy effort of the international community.""Speaking to other international colleagues, I sense a major concern that this incident could slow the anti-piracy operations."Italy is part of a multinational force that has ships in the Indian Ocean and troops and guards on tankers and other vessels to head off attacks by Somali pirates. The campaign has the backing of the UN Security Council ...

Francesco Schettino has shown little resilience in performing command functions , court says Italy's top appeals court ruled on Wednesday that Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia, was unfit to command the cruise liner which ran aground and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January, causing at least 30 deaths.In a written explanation of its decision to maintain a house arrest order against Schettino, the Court of Cassation said he had shown "little resilience in performing command functions or in handling responsibility for the safety of persons under his care."Schettino has been accused of wrecking the 114,500 metric tons (126,215 tons) liner by bringing it too close to shore, where a rocky ledge tore a gash in its side and made it keel over and sink.Investigators also accuse Schettino of delaying evacuation and losing control of the operation, during which he abandoned ship before all 4,200 passengers and crew had been taken off the vessel.He has been charged with multiple manslaughter, causing the accident and abandoning ship prematurely. A pre-trial hearing was held in Grosseto, near Florence, in March.The Court of Cassation said Schettino had shown himself unable to manage a crisis and to ensure the ...

While guarding Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie, they mistook the fishermen for pirates The Italian government has offered a compensation of Rs. 1 crore to the families of the two Indian fishermen allegedly shot dead by two Italian marines on February 15. Sources say the Italian government representatives and victims' families are drafting an agreement to be presented before the Kerala High Court today.Italy's Defence Secretary also met with the families and the shipping company to plan an out-of-court settlement.The two Italian marines, Latore Massimiliano and Salvatore Gironi, were arrested for allegedly gunning down two Indian fishermen off Kollam coast on February 15. They were guarding Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie when they allegedly mistook the fishermen - Ajesh Binki, 25, from Tamil Nadu and Jelestine, 45, from Kerala - for Somalian pirates and fired at them.Mr Massimillano and Mr Girone, the two accused Italian marines, were booked for murder and arrested on February 20, their remand since extended till April 30 by a court in Kollam.Source: NDTV