Topic: Can Costa Concordia be saved?

QUOTE:

Jackie,
The six short and one long blast of the ships siren is universal, it means go to your muster station, do not pass go or collect your belongings.

After that orders are given by the crew most who speak good English/Italian/French/ and German and by each Countries Rep over the tanoy.

Actually the officers, customer care, shop assistants do speak a number of languages but the actual crew- ie stewards, waiters, kitchen staff, housekeeping - don't. Most of the stewards we spoke to spoke English and that's all. On a German ship none of the stewards seemed to be able to speak German. On Costa again few would be able to speak Italian so it must have complicated matters during the evacuation.

QUOTE:

I am aware of that! I was agreeing with the previous quote! and obviously the sirens "universal" etc didnt seem to help those on the Costa especially those that hadnt done the drill or been on a cruise before! Once you have been on a cruise you know all of that but if it is your first time I expect you may feel lost!!!

To be honest I think that how ever many cruises you've been on, in cases of such an emergency , panic would take over.

QUOTE:

Thanks Sue,

Though does 'vicarious liability' work in the same way in the USA? Also would be interesting to know the Italian slant.

Whatever, as you rightly say, it could all prove to be very expensive for Costa/Carnival.

There haven't been many cases where human error has been so expensive.

I think things may look different if the Costa Concordia is rescued and given a new name like the Costa Europa! People may take things differently? I would give it a try

Kylie Saunders

Doubt if they will retail her as the sea water damage must be horrendous now

In the case of the Costa Concordia, it has been reported that this wasn’t the first time that this sort of close pass to shore had occurred. And if so, the AIS ( Automatic Identification System) tracks should have been available to the vessel’s operators to document that event. The lingering question, therefore, is who (if anyone) knew about it, and if they did, why wasn’t something done to stop it, particularly if it wasn't official company policy?. Perhaps there is a simple explanation for all of this, but there is also no denying that the toothpaste is out of the tube now. It is however, a fair question to ask, and one that should be answered.
The P&O once had a number of captains who were known as 'rock-hoppers' - most of them in command of cargo ships back in the 1960s. Signals were sent back and forth between them - 'got to within two cables of Such and Such Rocks, etc' One actually managed to put his ship high and dry off Hakodate, Japan. Fortunately the young OOW, the Fourth Officer, had the foresight to log his objection to the captain's course alteration and was consequently exonerated of any blame. He soon left the company and joined the Royal Marines!