Topic: Five more bodies pulled from Costa Concordia wreckage

Five more bodies have been found from the stern of Costa Concordia, bringing the death toll to 11.

According to Fillippo Marini, Coast Guard "They were all wearing life jackets and we believe they are all aged between 50 and 60 years old.” 24 people are still missing since the ship capsized on Friday.

Reports say rescue workers, who worked through the night to search for survivors, have combed all the areas of the ship still above the water-line, leading to fears that those who are missing are in submerged areas of the ship and therefore unlikely to be found alive.



All 35 Britons who were amongst the 4,200 passengers aboard the vessel when it crashed into rocks off Italy's west coast, just two hours into a seven-night cruise, are believed to be safe. Those missing include passengers and crew from the US, Germany, France, Italy and Poland. The youngest is thought to be a five-year-old girl whose father is also missing.

The ship's captain Francesco Schettino, 52, has been detained on suspicion of manslaughter following allegations he deliberately changed the course of the ship to sail close to Giglio Island to perform a salute to a retired former captain and to impress the family of the ship's head waiter, who lived on the island.

A judge is due to decide shortly whether he should remain in custody.

Prosecutor Francesco Verusio said "The captain is in a very difficult position because we are sure enough that he abandoned the ship when many passengers were still waiting to be evacuated."

It said a transcript purportedly of conversations between the captain and the coastguard has emerged in the Italian media - apparently drawn from one of the ship's black box recorders - which appears to corroborate the claims that the captain left the ship before all the passengers escaped.

Capt Schettino has denied any wrongdoing and says the rocks were not on his charts. He has insisted that he and his crew were the last people to leave the vessel.
His lawyer, Bruno Leporatti, said his client was "overcome and wants to express his greatest condolences to the victims", adding that the captain had carried out a dangerous manoeuvre that had actually saved lives.

Italy says it will declare a state of emergency over the incident, and provide funding to help avert any environmental disaster. The Italian environment minister said liquid was leaking from the ship, but it was unclear if it was fuel.

So very sad to read this news. I hope the wait for information on the other missing passengers will soon reach a conclusion..Carol

Not wishing to sound insensitive, but the death toll could have been so much worse.

Remember the 'Herald of Free Enterprise' in 1987? A ferry capsized on her way from Zeebrugge. 139 passengers and crew died.

Herald sank because it was then the policy of the ferry company (and many others) to sail before the bow doors were completely closed, my aunt worked for them and she said nine times out of ten they sailed with the bow doors open. It takes a tragedy for lessons to be learned. I suggest Costa seriously look at the calibre of the Captains they employ and I doubt if a British or Scandanevian Captain would have acted as criminally and cowardly as this.

Where was the leadership?????

Some of those found were in their muster station awaiting instructions I suppose.

So tragic, so sad , what a waste of life.

QUOTE:

Herald sank because it was then the policy of the ferry company (and many others) to sail before the bow doors were completely closed, my aunt worked for them and she said nine times out of ten they sailed with the bow doors open. It takes a tragedy for lessons to be learned. I suggest Costa seriously look at the calibre of the Captains they employ and I doubt if a British or Scandanevian Captain would have acted as criminally and cowardly as this.

Sorry your statement about the bow doors being open on departure is a complete fabrication, i spent many years on the Zeebrugge ferries from third officer through to Chief officer and whilst sailing as second officer it was my job to secure the bow /stern door prior to departure and our company policy was very strict on that, the actual bow/stern hinged section might not apper to be closed but the actual watertight/collision doors were secured.
The herald incident was due to an tragic error by one member of the crew who shall remain nameless.
Immediately after the herald incident every Townsend/P&o ferry were fitted with bow and stern cameras so that the bridge team could see the state of the doors before letting go.

A 12th. body (wearing a lifejacket) was recovered today...