Remember the Costa Concordia? That was the mega-cruise ship that Captain, Francesco Schettino, drove into a rock off the Italian island of Giglio in January last year. The ship went over on its side and 32 people died and another 150 suffered injuries. Those on the lower decks suffered most as the bottom decks were submerged. It pays to go first class and stay on the upper penthouses! The ship was known for “Cruising Italian Style.”
The trial of Schettino opened today, 7/17. Turns out his lawyers requested a plea bargain. Instead of going through a long and expensive trail, the former Captain would plead guilty and accept a 3 ½ year prison stay. There are 250 pending civil suits. Good luck getting much money out of Captain Schettino. But the first in – get paid first. Salvage is planned for next year.
Carnival Corp owns the Concordia and has announced 2014 plans to roll out a replacement – a new 132,500-ton, 3,700–passenger mega-ship.
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[…] few days ago we told you about the post-crash trial of the Captain of the Costa Concordia. Now the Italian judicial system found 5 of his crew members […]
[…] After a year and a half sitting on its side, a multi-national team of engineers rigged up a cradle to upright the ship. Two bodies are still inside plus all the waste and toilet overflows. Yuck. Concordia is the 300 yard long monster that Captain Francesco Schettino, drove into a rock off the Italian island of Giglio in January last year. 32 people died . Four of the crew have been found guilty and the Captain is awaiting trial. A new 3,700–passenger mega-ship is being built to replace it. Read the background. […]