General Chat

Six people have died and four more are missing after a luxury cruise ship carrying thousands of passengers, including British holidaymakers, ran aground off the coast of Italy.
A major rescue operation was launched last night after the Costa Concordia began sinking near the island of Giglio, off the Tuscan coast.

A harbour master said the ship looked like it had ''ran aground'', although Costa Cruises, which owns the ship, said it was ''too early to say what caused the incident".


It was just like something out of the Titanic. You could tell straight away that the ship had hit something and no way was it an electrical fault.

Coastguard official Cmdr Francesco Paolillo said at least three bodies had been retrieved from the sea.

He said there were "probably" at least three more victims, although he had not received confirmation of those further deaths.

As the ship began to list heavily to one side, coastguards were immediately dispatched to the scene while terrified passengers were ordered to put on life vests and man lifeboats.

There were reports of people having jumped into the water.

A helicopter and five other ships that were in the area were also used in the rescue mission.



24 British holidaymakers are believed to have been onboard the ship

Passenger Luciano Castro told Italian media: ''We were having dinner when all of a sudden the lights went out. It seemed as if the ship struck something and then we heard a load bang and everything fell to the floor.





What a tragedy, people going off to enjoy a holiday and this happens.....

May those who have died rest in peace, I hope there won't be too many more deaths.

Lizx

I thought the name sounded familiar, it's a cruise liner that sometimes ran out of Malta, Valletta harbour, and I have a mini video I took of it leaving there when I was on holiday in Malta in 2007. It carries 3000 to 4000 passengers and crew.

I heard on news that because of the list - the lifeboats could not be launched. Have always argued these huge floating cities are top heavy and bear no resemblence to a ship. Saddened that there is loss of life - so far according to witness reports could be caused by panic.

Let us hope the death toll does not rise any higher.

Latest heard on the radio was at least 70 .

That is about 70 unaccounted for, confirmed death toll is 3.

Think passengers had to be airlifted off which is why it is taking a while. Captain tried to get the ship into shallow waters but couldn't because of the ship listing so life boats could not be launched. I hope the death toll doesn't rise.

I am about to go on my 3rd cruise and before you even get your luggage you are put through your paces incase of a emergency, the key issue is to do as you are told stay where you are told there is reason to panic, as obviously have done so.

Infact last year there was a fire on board, did I panic no as I slept throught it as did the rest of the passagers, the only time we knew of it was the following morning when one of the dinning rooms was closed. :-D

What was it like when you hit that iceberg when you were going to America?

About as Scary as when you fighting over in Africa during the boer war!

So many questions to be answered about why this happened, could have been an electrical fault but the Captain has been arrested........ it will all come out eventually but hope it will mean that other big vessels can be made safer if it was a mechanical/electrical fault. It was a good thing there was so much help nearby so that many people were saved. I hope the death toll won't be much higher and those people listed as missing have in fact been saved and are just not listed correctly for the mo.

Lizx

Interesting to hear reports this morning that many men refused to keep to the old rule "Women and children first" and insisted on staying with their wives/families.

Others who jumped in said it was "every man for himself" and pushed away people trying to hang onto them as they swam to shore.

It sounds horrendous.

Gwynne

So far 3 people have died, 3 people have been rescued and l think 40 people still missing. Positive thoughts for the missing!!

jude

Yes, thinking of those still missing, poor people. I think it will be a while before the full story comes out. Heard a couple of marine experts on TV last night who were really puzzled as to why she listed so badly. They said that these cruise ships were supposed to be built to remain upright even in something like this.

I would never of jumped even in panic, even I know that if you jump of a sinking ship you are going to do down with it.

They have just lifted off an injured crew man and flown him to hospital.

There were reports that the ship was a few miles off course.where was the navigating Officer?.I think they rely too much on Computorised systems and not real seamanship.

It was reported on news that Captain stated that the rocks should not have been there but reports state that they were off course. Also he left the ship prior to the clearance of all passengers.

It's wrong that the Captain deserted his ship altho he denied it, it's obvious by the fact that the injured seaman had only just been taken off and a couple found alive and safely removed after he had been arrested.

However, he insists there shouldn't have been rocks where he was, and said the charts showed it was ok, and a geologist? gave an interview on tv and said seismic activity is strong in that area so new rocks could be around in areas previously shown as clear, maps and charts wouldn't be updated that often so wouldn't show this.

You would expect sailors to have practical knowledge as well as knowing how to read all the equipment but I suppose it's like everything else these days, too much left reliant on technology and the old skills gone.I just hope they find all the bodies of those lost if they can't find anyone else alive, so that they can have a decent burial and their families can mourn them properly.

One woman said her Dad stood aside to let women go first and he is lost.

So sad.


Lizx

Probably using a maritime version of a Satnav....& we all know how reliable those are.
I used to really fancy the idea of a cruise, but seeing the floating cities berthed in Mahon harbour put me right off & generally speaking, they are among the smaller ones.

i dont blame the captain getting of, what should he have done, held on till now? they were still finding people yesterday, should the captain have stayed till yesterday?

he had no choice but to leave to save himself, and regarless of wether he should of or not, i know if i was captain, id have got of as soon as i could too,

its a total tragedy, i feel for the faimlys with relatives who were onboard, i think we can speculate all we like were not going to know anything till there has been a full enquiry

and it does make me worry about close friends i have going on cruises, next week and the week after :(