How Did the Italian Cruise Ship Sink?

By Michael Ferguson

On the night of January 13, 2012, the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia had an accident that would change maritime history. It was a tragedy that would claim the lives of 32 people and leave hundreds more injured. But how did it happen?

The Costa Concordia was traveling from Civitavecchia to Savona, Italy when it encountered a rocky formation off the coast of Giglio Island. In order to get closer to the island and provide passengers with a better view, the captain, Francesco Schettino, decided to deviate from his planned course. This decision resulted in the ship striking a rock formation at around 9:45 PM local time.

The impact caused a 50-meter gash in the side of the ship and caused it to take on water quickly. As water flooded into the ship, it began to list heavily and eventually capsized on its side.

Passengers were forced to abandon ship as lifeboats were deployed. Unfortunately, due to confusion and mismanagement many lifeboats were not used properly or lower at all.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Captain Schettino was found guilty of multiple counts including manslaughter and abandoning ship before all passengers had been evacuated. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in causing the tragedy.

Conclusion:

The sinking of Costa Concordia was a tragedy that could have been avoided if proper safety protocols had been followed. The captain’s decision to deviate from his planned course resulted in striking a rocky formation which caused irreparable damage to the vessel and led to its eventual capsizing. It is a reminder that safety must always be taken seriously when operating such large vessels.