The tragic Costa Concordia disaster, which claimed the lives of 33 passengers, was a devastating event that left many wondering about the actions of Captain Francesco Schettino, the man in charge of the ship during the crash. The 64-year-old Italian captain faced legal consequences for his role in the incident and was eventually sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter, having abandoned ship while passengers were still onboard.
Schettino’s bizarre explanation for abandoning the ship during the crisis came during his court testimony. When questioned about his decision to leave the sinking vessel, he claimed that he accidentally fell into a lifeboat. “I didn’t even have a life jacket because I had given it to one of the passengers. I was trying to get people into the boats in an orderly fashion. Suddenly, since the ship was at a 60-70° angle, I tripped and ended up in one of the boats,” he explained. The excuse seemed to suggest that his escape from the disaster was a mere accident.
This statement only added to his reputation as the “Captain Coward,” a nickname he earned for abandoning his ship and its passengers in their time of need. His testimony further denied claims that he had been distracted by his alleged lover, Domnica Cemortan, a Moldovan dancer. Prosecutors suggested that he steered the ship too close to the island of Giglio to impress her, but Schettino insisted that his goal was to please the passengers. He said his intention was to give them a show, salute a retired captain on the island, and satisfy the head waiter, who was also from Giglio.
The Costa Concordia was originally designed to carry 4,000 passengers on Mediterranean cruises, but on January 13, 2012, it was on a tragic course. After setting sail on January 3, 2012, the ship veered off its planned route and headed toward Giglio Island, where Schettino attempted a “sail-by” maneuver and a maritime salute to the island’s residents. In the process, he steered the ship too close to a dangerous rock formation, causing the hull to tear open and flood the engine room.
Despite efforts to correct the course, including a 13-second maneuver, the ship struck the reef, creating a massive 53-meter gash. As the Costa Concordia began flooding, power was lost, and the ship started to sink. The first rescue boats didn’t arrive for 15 minutes, and during this critical period, Schettino made the decision to abandon ship, leaving the remaining crew to manage the evacuation.
The rescue efforts, involving 25 patrol boats, 14 merchant vessels, and several helicopters, managed to save many of the 3,000 passengers onboard. However, 33 people lost their lives in the disaster, and the final victim’s body was recovered two years later in 2014.
The Costa Concordia disaster not only caused immense loss of life but also resulted in an estimated $2 billion in damages, cementing its place in history as one of the most catastrophic maritime accidents in recent memory. Schettino’s actions, and his bizarre explanations during the subsequent trial, have left many questioning the leadership and responsibility of those in charge during the disaster.
