...and finally Susan Parker T
Learning the lessons from Costa Concordia
he tragic events that unfolded in Italy on 13 January have been seen on screens worldwide and came as a nasty shock to the international cruise industry that had achieved a hard-won excellent safety record. Speculation as to what exactly happened has been rife and experts of varying expertise consulted in an effort to understand what happened. The lives of at least 17 people were lost and
there is not one amongst us who has not been touched by this terrible incident. I would like to add my own heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones. That evening Costa Concordia turned from a
pleasure dome into a ship where heroism and fear stood side by side. None of us know exactly how we would react in such a situation. Reports of the crew being ill-prepared and
not able to function were summarily tough judgements. Yes, they had been drilled and trained in mustering and evacuation but, nevertheless, for many it must have been hard to believe that a ship such as this would end up on its side.
W
atching footage of the passengers clambering down the side of the ship on a rope ladder, hearing and seeing
the scenes of panic in the lifeboats, passengers jumping into the water, I can only admire the human spirit of so many and wonder how I would have reacted on that night? Without knowing the full circumstances of how this incident came to pass, the evacuation of almost the entire complement of over 4,200 people from a ship with half its lifeboats out of action, rapidly filling with water and without light seemed an extraordinary accomplishment
96 I Passenger Ship Technology I Spring 2012
that should not be underestimated. That the grounding should not have happened in the first place is an entirely different matter and one the industry began addressing immediately and will continue to do (see page 14). There are many questions to answer and until the Italian accident investigators have completed their task, aided, it is to be hoped, by the vessel’s voyage data recorder, we cannot know the sequence of events and actions and who or what was at fault.
“This is a responsible and well-regulated industry”
nitial blame has been placed on the shoulders of Capt Francesco Schettino, who admitted making some errors, but can the whole of this tragic event be solely his responsibility? I have followed this industry for almost 20 years. I have watched cruising grow from a little-known luxury holiday choice into a major vacation proposition. I have talked with the people behind the scenes who design, build and equip these ships and who work tirelessly to push the barriers but also to keep them safe. This is a responsible and well-regulated industry – often self-regulated over and above legislative requirements. There will be changes to its safety practices and
I
procedures, and possibly equipment and design, as a result of this tragic event. I have no doubt that the industry will look deep within itself and take whatever action is needed to make sure that the likelihood of a similar accident is reduced as far as is humanly possible. PST
www.passengership.info
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