I’m aware many of my readers have been expecting me to
give my opinion of the cruise ship Costa Concordia disaster.
There have been daily reports of the position of the ship and
the finding of additional bodies, missing since the grounding
occurred off the coast of Italy.
Proposals regarding the ships removal are put forth daily.
Latest reports note there is a plan to retrieve the estimated
2,200 metric tons of heavy fuel oil and 185 metric tons of
diesel fuel and lubricants stored in the tanks in the bottom
of the hull. The Dutch salvage company Smit is planning to
pump the fuel out of the 17 tanks and transport it to a waiting
oil tanker with emergency recovery equipment onboard.
Although
the fuel removal operation may sound like a simple maneuver,
there will be many problems to overcome. Some
will be out of anyone’s control. Weather may prohibit
them from accomplishing their objectives and could even
cause
the entire vessel to sink in an estimated 250 feet of
water adjacent
to the ledge the ship is lying on. This problem could
occur because of bad weather, plus the variances of ballast.
Removal of the fuel from the tanks will change the weight
at the
lowest point of the ship, which could allow the boat
to
slide toward
the drop off said to be within a few yards.
We can all agree, cruise ships are built top heavy with their
multiple decks and therefore require extensive weight in the
lower sections to maintain an upright position. Although the
Costa Concordia is lying on its side, if the tanks become buoyant
or even lighter than they presently are, it seems likely to
me the vessel will shift. The 230-foot (earlier reports said
it was 160-foot) gash in the hull also could contribute to
the change in ballast, making the hull unstable and unsteady
even as it presently lies.
I have heard conflicting reports offered by salvage company
officials who all seem to be unsure of how to proceed. If they
salvage it, where will they put it? I heard one plan that suggested
attaching cables from shore to hold it in place while salvage
attempts are made. I wonder what size cable could possibly
be used. If one snapped, might more do the same? If this were
to happen, it would not only endanger lives, but could severely
damage equipment and boats; a snapped cable could cut a work
boat in half.
Once all weight and balance factors are taken into account,
I would not be surprised to see the ship dismantled right where
she sits; piece by piece. In doing this, portions could be
taken ashore and perhaps some items salvaged for reuse.
I am not professing to know how the job should be done just
because I have salvaged many small, recreational craft. I just
recognize the difficulty of the undertaking. Whatever actions
are taken, the job will take years to complete and danger and
high risks will prevail. We can only hope there will be no
further loss of life.
As
I see it, the Costa Concordia, valued at $500 million, and
the lives and property lost resulted
from the actions
of one
man — Capt. Francesco Schettino. He alone made the decision
to override the electronics and steer his ship into shallow
waters. He claimed he had made this maneuver three or four
times. That statement makes me question if the operators of
the cruise line were ever made aware of his previous actions.
Currently, he is claiming he was told by them to take that
route as a “publicity move.” Persons
interviewed on shore reported they had witnessed
the ship passing
near shore in the past. Some locals reported
the ship had passed
so close it could be hit with a thrown stone.
A man interviewed, who was aboard the grounded
ship,
said
he felt he could
almost touch the shore.
Stories
told by survivors as well as the dramatic photos, plus the
captain’s ever-changing
accounts of events puzzle me. If multiple
counts of manslaughter,
plus the
act of abandoning
ship are filed, why has this man been released
to house
arrest?
This
incident will present an ill reflection on all cruise lines
for years to come. That
fact is
simply
unfair.
A cruise vacation is a great way to receive
a lot for a small
fee.
It’s
a wonderful value. I have traveled on cruise ships of all sizes
since I was 10 years old and never had a moment’s
concern. I have never cruised on a ship
that did not have an on-deck
muster as soon as the captain took the
helm from the pilot. The muster is to be
certain
all souls
on board
are aware
of how to find and put on a personal floatation
device (PFD) and
where to report to a lifeboat if necessary.
Most of the larger cruise ships are of
foreign registry.
The
reason
for this
is to avoid the rigorous inspections and
high fees associated with operating under
the U.S.
flag.
Most crews are foreign
born, coming from countries all over the
globe.
I
have a question regarding the use of recordings such as the
black box recovered
from the
ship. Doesn’t anyone ever
review these recorders? If the Concordia ship’s company
had done so, they would have been made aware of the captain’s
prior action of running close to shore.
Please
do not judge all captains by the behavior of Capt. Schettino — his
total disregard for his ship’s
safety and cowardly behavior sets him
apart. He
stands alone
in the annals
of men of the
sea.