What Happened to the Captain of the Cruise Ship Concordia?

By Michael Ferguson

On 13 January 2012, the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio. The tragedy claimed the lives of 32 people and left a further 64 injured. The Captain Francesco Schettino was widely criticised for his role in the incident, with many accusing him of abandoning the sinking ship before all passengers were off.

Schettino was initially placed under house arrest and charged with multiple counts of manslaughter and causing a shipwreck. He was accused of having steered too close to Giglio Island and navigating recklessly, resulting in his subsequent failure to save lives and ensure safety on board.

The trial began in July 2013, with Schettino denying all charges against him. During the trial, witnesses alleged that Schettino had been drinking and had steered too close to Giglio Island in order to show off to passengers.

His defence argued that they had been misled by inaccurate nautical charts which did not mark out a submerged reef, causing them to run aground. In February 2015, Schettino was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in the disaster.

Conclusion

Captain Francesco Schettino was ultimately found guilty for his role in the Concordia cruise ship disaster, and sentenced to 16 years in prison for multiple counts of manslaughter and causing a shipwreck.