Costa Concordia Update: Death Toll Rises, Sanctuary Threatened, Salvage Options Considered

The death toll from the sinking of the Costa Concordia has risen to thirteen as divers discovered another body of a woman wearing a life jacket in a submerged passageway.   Eight of the thirteen victims have now been identified according to Italian officials. Four of the … Continue reading

Costa Concordia – One Week Later, What Do We Know? Not Very Much!

One week ago, the Costa Concordia grounded off the island of Giglio.    Eleven passengers or crew are confirmed dead. Twenty four people are missing.  The ship itself has sunk in shallow water having rolled 80 degrees on its side.  What else do we … Continue reading

Odd Notes on the Costa Concordia – Singers, Violinists and Theme Music from the Titanic

According to survivors’ reports, the band on the deck of the Titanic continued to play after the last boat departed as the ship sank beneath waters of the icy North Atlantic.  Coincidentally, a singer aboard the Costa Concordia, Amelia Leon says that she … Continue reading

Three Italian Captains – the Costa Concordia and the Andrea Doria

Reuters reports that Italy is enthralled by the tale of the “two captains,”  while on CNN another Italian captain, from another ship and another time, is remembered – In Andrea Doria wreck, a captain who shone. … Continue reading

Coverage of the Costa Concordia Tragedy – Unfortunate Juxtapositions

As the tragedy of the Costa Concordia plays out, newspapers still need to sell ads.  Recently some of the juxtapositions have been, well, unfortunate. (Click on any of the thumbnails below for a larger image.) Italy’s Il Gazzettino featured a … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Body Count Rises to 11, 24 Still Missing, Shocking Recording of Coast Guard Ordering Captain Back to Ship

Divers searching the wreck of the Costa Concordia have found five more bodies in the submerged section of the ship.  All were wearing life jackets and are believed to be passengers.  The number of missing, which had been as low … Continue reading

The Costa Concordia’s Fatal Salute – “Inexplicable Error” or “Nice Tradition”?

The Costa Concordia “Saluting” Giglio Last August In a recent press conference, Costa Crociere chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi blamed the grounding of the Costa Concordia on an “inexplicable” error by the captain.  Mr Foschi said: “This route was put in … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Three More Bodies Found, Death Toll Rises to Six (Updated 1/16/12)

The Italian Coast Guard announced that the bodies of two elderly people were found in a flooded restaurant and the body of one passenger was located in a passageway on the Costa Concordia, raising the confirmed deaths from the grounding and sinking of the ship to six. … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Three Survivors Found Aboard, Missing Down to 17, Captain Detained

A Korean couple on their honeymoon, who had been trapped below decks on the cruise ship Costa Concordia for over 24 hours after the ship ran aground and sank in shallow water near the island of Giglio, off Italy’s Tuscan coast, were rescued yesterday.  A third … Continue reading

Thousands Evacuated as Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Strikes Reef Off Italy – At Least Three Dead

Just two hours after leaving port in Civitavecchia, the cruise ship Costa Concordia hit a reef near the island of Giglio, off Italy’s Tuscan coast, reportedly ripping a 165-foot gash in its hull.  The ship began flooding and rolled on its … Continue reading