Tuesday, April 2, 2024

10 years later, Costa Concordia survivors share their stories from doomed cruise ship

cruise ships sinking

Cruise ship stability is a crucial aspect of ship design and operation. A stable ship is one that is less likely to capsize or roll over in rough seas or due to other external factors. The stability of a ship is determined by its center of gravity and the distribution of weight throughout the vessel. The crew members are also responsible for conducting safety drills on a regular basis.

cruise ships sinking

How many people have died as a result of a cruise ship sinking?

Modern safety regulations and advanced shipbuilding techniques make today’s cruise ships incredibly seaworthy. When discussing maritime disasters involving a passenger vessel, it is only natural that the mind is immediately drawn to the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. While it is true that 1,517 lives were lost as a direct result of the sinking, it is also worth clarifying that the Titanic was not technically a cruise ship. For Concordia survivor Georgia Ananias, the COVID-19 infections are just the latest evidence that passenger safety still isn’t a top priority for the cruise ship industry.

cruise ships sinking

New Safety Protocols and Crew Training

The impact damaged the ship, allowing water to seep in and putting the 4,229 people on board in danger. An investigation focused on shortcomings in the procedures followed by Costa Concordia's crew and the actions of her captain, Francesco Schettino, who left the ship prematurely. He left about 300 passengers on board the sinking vessel, most of whom were rescued by helicopter or motorboats in the area. Schettino was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Despite receiving its own share of criticism, Costa Cruises and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, did not face criminal charges. Their basic design means that they are engineered to keep them upright, with ballast tanks preventing the ship from tipping over.

Cruise Passenger Dies in Sinking of Bahamas Excursion Boat - The Maritime Executive

Cruise Passenger Dies in Sinking of Bahamas Excursion Boat.

Posted: Tue, 14 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Cruise Ship Safety Features and Regulations

The Costa Concordia struck an underwater rock, capsized, and sank, killing 32 passengers. A Coast Guard officer in contact with the ship at the time of the sinking claimed he told Schettino to get back onboard. After being convicted of manslaughter and pursuing several appeals, Schettino only started his 16-year prison sentence in May of 2017. The salvage effort (the ship was completely dismantled) was the largest effort of its kind. Only 11 ocean cruise ships have sunk while on a cruise in the last 50 years. Assuming an average of 100 sailings per ship per year, and an average of 150 cruise ships in that time, that is odds of 1 in 68,000.

On September 2, 1939, the United Kingdom declared war on the Nazi Empire in World War II. In total, five helicopters joined the rescue mission, shuttling back and forth, carrying 12 people at a time to safety as dawn broke and the darkness lifted. Moss was put in contact with two small ships that were close to the Oceanos. Instead of being lowered down to the water once loaded up with people, the lifeboats would cling to the side of the ship until the next big wave rolled in, tipping the ship enough to let them dangle freely. "We'd let them go, off into the night, and they would just drift away into the pounding waves," he says. "The people in the lifeboats had a torturous time - they were getting deluged in spray, it was cold and completely dark, but we just had to carry on until all of the starboard side lifeboats were launched."

We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. The ship sustained severe damage to its hull; it flooded and lost power, and the rudder was positioned so the ship couldn’t be steered. While on her way to New York City, the Stockholm passenger liner collided with Andrea Doria, and the ship immediately started to list and take on water. Half of her lifeboats were underwater, which could have led to a significant loss of life, but the ship did not sink immediately.

In most cases, cruise ships are designed with safety in mind and undergo rigorous testing and inspections to ensure they can withstand various weather conditions and potential hazards. Additionally, the crew is trained extensively in emergency procedures and evacuation protocols to ensure the safety of passengers in the event of an emergency. The many experts in 1912 who considered the Titanic “unsinkable” were to be proven wrong on the boat’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Thomas Andrews had designed the ship to withstand head-on collisions and rammings from other ships. However, the North Atlantic Ocean iceberg that took down the vessel scraped through five of its 16 watertight compartments.

Disasters at sea: Six cruise mishaps in 2023 - Fox News

Disasters at sea: Six cruise mishaps in 2023.

Posted: Sun, 24 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

How Many Cruise Ships Have Sunk?

She sank in 1927 off the coast of Brazil when a propeller shaft broke and damaged the hull of the ship. She sank slowly, but there was some confusion on board which meant that 314 people died of the 1,252 passengers and crew on the ship. Whether you’re someone interested in maritime history, or you’re a little worried about taking a cruise for the first time, you might want to learn more about the number of times that cruise ships have sunk. When passengers board a cruise ship, they are typically given a safety briefing that includes information on how to use life jackets, where to find emergency exits, and what to do in the event of an emergency. It is important for passengers to pay attention during these briefings and to familiarize themselves with the ship's layout so that they can quickly and safely evacuate if necessary.

Safety Improvements Since Major Disasters

GIGLIO, Italy (AP) — Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. But for the passengers on board and the residents who welcomed them ashore, the memories of that harrowing, freezing night remain vividly etched into their minds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control last month warned people across-the-board not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the risks of infection. Ten years have passed since the Costa Concordia cruise ship slammed into a reef and capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio. NBC News correspondent Kelly Cobiella caught up with a group of survivors on TODAY Wednesday, a decade after they escaped a maritime disaster that claimed the lives of 32 people.

The Italian cruise ship ran aground off the tiny Italian island of Giglio after striking an underground rock and capsizing. Schettino argued that he fell into a lifeboat because of how the ship was listing to one side, but this argument proved unconvincing. In 2015, a court found Schettino guilty of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning ship before passengers and crew were evacuated and lying to authorities about the disaster. Evidence introduced in Schettino’s trial suggests that the safety of his passengers and crew wasn’t his number one priority as he assessed the damage to the Concordia.

It was during dinner that Moss Hills began to realise just how severe the storm was. The ship's waiters, normally completely adept at carrying drinks and food without spilling anything, were struggling. Moss, a guitarist from Zimbabwe working on board the cruise liner alongside his wife Tracy, a bass player, had never seen the waiters dropping trays before. Even with a well managed wreck such as the MS Seascape, some spillage is unavoidable. Divers, aided by remotely operated underwater vehicles, locate lost cars and other metal debris, feeding this information to a barge fitted with underwater magnets and mechanical grabbers. Before the rear segment is cut free, support vessels weld enormous air-filled metal boxes called caissons to its exposed starboard side.

Cruise ships are subject to a wide range of regulations and safety protocols to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. In addition to these safety features, cruise ships also undergo regular inspections and maintenance to ensure that they are in good condition and meet all safety standards. Crew members are also trained in emergency procedures to ensure that they can respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency.

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