Topic: Is anyone else concerned about the apparent 'Trial by Media' re Costa Concordia?

the problem we have today is that the media cannot report on FACTS without embellishing with personal opinion and constantly seek and parade opinions of unqualified people to make sensationalistic headlines....These so called reporters are parasites and scum of the earth...

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the problem we have today is that the media cannot report on FACTS without embellishing with personal opinion and constantly seek and parade opinions of unqualified people to make sensationalistic headlines....These so called reporters are parasites and scum of the earth...

Nice to see a factual post

My friend was on this beach 4 years ago and said that it was common practice for the cruise ships to come (in her opinion) dangerously close to the island, so why wasn't this practice picked up earlier by the companies? It could have saved a lot of heartache for those who were on board.

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Nonsense! Proof? What proof?

We do not ACTUALLY know all the facts as yet, the newspapers have largely been printing rumour and speculation. Even quotes from the captain are allegedly "leaked transcripts" - are they even accurate? The 'Black Box' has yet to be analysed.

It's been 'trial by Media' so far and Costa/Carnival have very quickly taken the "pilot error" stance in case their future cruises don't sell.

Now we have the "mystery blonde on the bridge" story. I find it hard to imagine the relevance of her to the accident, if she even existed.

Let's NOT forget the Capitan has been request to go DANGEROUSLY close to the island before. Who decided it was safe then? Should they not also be in the proverbial 'dock'. This island 'skimming' thing was obviously a common practice - you can't tell me that senior Costa staff did not notice! Everyone in authority obviously thought that it was safe.

I can guarantee that like all accidents there will be multiple-causation, involving bad practice, poor procedures, bad senior management and NOT just a rouge Captain.

As ever the media, including the BBC and Sky, are full of speculation backed by little fact. especially to begin with. The BBC and Sky couldn't even get it right as to whether the ship was at the beginning or end of its cruise and which way it was sailing - too much trouble to look at an online brochure....

So called newspapers eg the Daily Mail print what is probably entirely untrue tittle tattle about young blonde women being on the bridge and at the captain's tanle with all the associated nudge nudge wink wink. In fact, it seems she was there, with 22 officers, and helping with translation for the variety of passengers on board from different countries.

Such 'journalism' is quite sickening.

News channels have to fill 24 hours, and I listen to the headlines and that's about it. Media should not be allowed to speculate, talk about things of which they have little or no knowledge. Newspapers should not be allowed to print people's names or have someone hung, drawn and quartered before a trial or enquiry. I would also close newspapers down if it is proven they have printed lies etc.

I also find it sickening that a lot of people love to gossip (one only has to look at contentious threads on here to see they attain a high number of views) and this tragedy is yet something else that people can gossip about.

Mo

I note the Sun etc. have been saying that "..the Captain would often dine on-board the ship in the 'exclusive' restaurant entertaining young women and other guests"

Obviously they have no idea that is one of the major roles of a Captain!

Locals have also commented that "passenger ships have been skimming the island for 200 years".

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I have been reading and watching with growing concern at the constant speculations, Costa staff comments, press intrusion (particularly to a member of Costa staff lying injured and in pain in hospital, thanlfully he made no comment to questions). Who is supposed to be in charge of ensuring that proper judicial proceedings are not compromised? Makes me feel very uneasy.

I remember well the recent persecution (by press) of the landlord of a young woman brutally murdered in a flat in his house. It turned out he had nothing to do with the murder, but terrible damage was done to his character.

As always the media jump on the bandwagon and always have to blame somebody immeditely. Lets all wait until the official report by experts has been submitted to the authorities. As an ex sailor who has steered ships without all the modern equipment, I find it hard to believe that even a deck seaman would deliberately steer a ship into a area they knew was dangerous, especially a ship that large. I have looked at the alleged course of the ship and it was going exactly as it should be until suddenly it veered off to Port. This to me indicates that it is possible that there was a fault with the steering system, either the complete system or if on auto-steering a fault on that. The fact that there was a complete electrical failure also points to equipment failure. Backup emergency electrical generators take time to kick in and during that time anything could be happening. It would appear, by the evidence, that this ship has gone close to the isalnd in the past without any problems as the water just off the coast is deep enough. It is also not unknown for the sea bed to rise and fall in this area as a result of volcanic activity and earthquakes. If it is found that the rocks the ship first hit were not on the most up to date charts a lot of people will have to retract their accusations.

Although the myth that the captain goes down with his ship is being quoted, it is just that. Once a captain is sure that all passengers and staff that can be saved have been, he is entitled to leave the ship. If people are trapped under water and unable to be helped to get out, the captain and his crew must have the right to save themselves.

Blame the captain immediately without any evidence from experts would suit the owners, the insurance companies and other staff members who may not have been 100% during this disaster. Where were the other senior officers like first and second officers for instance? Were they working on the ship until everybody who could be saved were, or not? What must not be overlooked is that once the captain realized the gravity of the situation he sailed the ship towards the shore and shallow water. By this action the ship did not sink in deep water and thousands of passengers and crew were saved. Although any loss of life is terrible, the situation could have been a lot worse if the ship had sunk in deep water. Let us wait for the result, if the captain is vindicated those blaming him should get in line to apologise. If the captain is 100% to blame, the Italian courts will make sure he is punished. For those who do not know what goes on, a captain of a ship is rarely on the bridge during a cruise or voyage but is always on instant call. He is always on the bridge whilst the ship is in any area where there is danger such as entering and leaving port (under the direction of the pilot),narrow channels and extreme weather. As most ships today are computer run a large electrical failure can be fatal if the ship is in the wrong location when it happens.
I sincerely hope that the investigation is run in a professional and fair manner and any blame directed towards the cause of the accident. The easy way out i.e.blame the captain for everything is what is most to be feared. This disater should make sure all other cruise companies up their game as to the actions to be taken in an emergency. Go back to your cabin is bad advice. Advice I would ignore as there is only one place to be in an emergency and that is on the uppper deck next to your lifeboat.

I will just make one comment,yes there was complete equipment failure,power was lost when the port side in the vicinity of the enging room was ripped out and tons of water started pouring in.

jim