Captain Liable for Disaster at Sea

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Anyone who has paid attention to the news in 2012 has likely heard of the Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster. The Italian vessel struck a reef before partially sinking off the coast of Italy. The $300 million salvage of the ship is touted to become the most expensive in history. The financial losses, however, are not what make this accident a tragedy. Through the negligence of Captain Francesco Schettino, the maritime disaster claimed the lives of thirty-two people, and this has had serious legal implications for Schettino.

The Costa Concordia Disaster

The Costa Concordia first set out to sea in 2006 as the largest Italian ship ever built until that time. At the time of the disaster, there were 4,252 passengers and crew on the vessel, and of these occupants, thirty were found dead and two are still missing and presumed dead. The ship was on a planned cruise of six ports on the west coast of Italy. What is even more disheartening is what led to the disaster and Captain Schettino’s reaction afterwards.