The Sinking of the Costa Concordia Cruise Ship
On January 13th, 2012, the Costa Concordia cruise ship struck a submerged rock off the coast of Giglio Island, near the Tuscan archipelago in Italy. The impact caused an extensive breach in the hull of the vessel, resulting in water flooding into the lower levels and causing it to capsize. 32 people lost their lives as a result of this tragedy.
The ship was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew members on its scheduled voyage from Civitavecchia to Savona. After hitting a submerged rock near Giglio Island, it began taking on water and eventually capsized, leaving passengers struggling to get off the ship safely while it slowly sunk beneath them.
Rescue efforts began immediately following the crash; Italian Coast Guard boats and helicopters worked tirelessly to bring everyone on board to safety. Despite the valiant efforts of all involved in this rescue mission, there were still 32 people reported missing after the accident – 20 passengers and 12 crew members.
An investigation into what happened revealed that human error was behind this disaster – Captain Francesco Schettino had steered too close to shore as he attempted a ‘salute’ for islanders on shore. He then reportedly left his post during the evacuation process and was eventually charged with manslaughter for his role in this tragedy.
After months of searching through hundreds of feet of water for bodies and evidence, recovery operations were completed in July 2014. This tragedy is one that will never be forgotten; its devastating human cost will forever be remembered by those who lost loved ones or were directly affected by it.
Conclusion: The Costa Concordia cruise ship sank on January 13th, 2012 after it struck a submerged rock near Giglio Island off the coast of Italy. 32 people tragically lost their lives as a result of this accident which was caused by human error on behalf of Captain Francesco Schettino who had strayed too close to shore while attempting a ‘salute’. Recovery operations were completed in July 2014 after months spent searching through hundreds of feet of water for bodies and evidence related to this tragedy.