On January 13th, 2012, the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized off the coast of Isola del Giglio. In the chaotic aftermath of the disaster, much of the focus centered on Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia.
Schettino was immediately blamed for his role in the tragedy that left 32 passengers dead. He was accused of sailing too close to shore, abandoning ship before all passengers had been evacuated, and generally failing in his duties as captain. The allegations were taken very seriously by Italian prosecutors, who brought a trial against Schettino in July 2013.
At this trial, prosecutors argued that Schettino had committed multiple serious errors before and during the sinking of the Costa Concordia. They said that he had ignored official warnings to stay away from shore and had deviated from set maritime routes without informing his superiors or authorities. Additionally, they argued that he had delayed giving orders to evacuate until it was too late for many passengers and crew members to escape safely.
Schettino denied these charges throughout his trial and attempted to shift some of the blame onto Costa Cruises management as well as other members of his crew. He also argued that he should not be held responsible for all casualties since some passengers died due to panic-induced accidents rather than a lack of evacuation orders or other negligence on his part.
The court found Schettino guilty on several counts including manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship before evacuation was complete, and failing to comply with maritime regulations. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison although this sentence has been subject to appeals since then and has yet to be finalized.
In addition to any jail time he may face, Schettino has also been ordered by a civil court to pay millions in damages to families affected by the disaster as well as Costa Cruises itself. This ruling was based on reports that concluded that Schettino’s negligence was largely responsible for what happened on board the Costa Concordia on January 13th 2012.
Ultimately then, what happened to Francesco Schettino is still being hotly contested in Italian courts almost seven years after he captained one of Europe’s worst modern maritime disasters. His lawyers are still attempting to reduce any punishments he may face while those affected by what happened are still waiting for justice – or at least some small measure of compensation – for their losses.
Conclusion: In conclusion, Francesco Schettino is facing multiple counts related to his role in causing the sinking of the Costa Concordia as well as possible jail time and fines payable both to victims’ families and Costa Cruises itself if found guilty by Italian courts. The length and severity of any punishment is still being decided though it appears certain that Captain Schettino will be held accountable for his actions in some form or another after almost seven years since this tragedy occurred.