i_am_the_swammi Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 been reading and hearing lots of stories about the cruise ship that ran aground just off the coast of Italy. I understand all the panic, and from the sounds of it, the cruise line and the cowardly captain share much of the blame that led to the loss of six lives and hundreds of injuries. That said, from every picture I have seen, the cruise ship was in no danger of actually sinking...it would be impossible to do in such shallow waters. In fact, the ship stabilized with about 70% of the vessel still above water, tilted on its side. Why on earth would you abandon ship if there was no real need to? I understand there was widespread panic, and there were hundreds of people fighting over lifejackets and such....but really, I am going the way of Jack in Titanic: if I am getting off that ship, its at the very last possible second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 been reading and hearing lots of stories about the cruise ship that ran aground just off the coast of Italy. I understand all the panic, and from the sounds of it, the cruise line and the cowardly captain share much of the blame that led to the loss of six lives and hundreds of injuries. That said, from every picture I have seen, the cruise ship was in no danger of actually sinking...it would be impossible to do in such shallow waters. In fact, the ship stabilized with about 70% of the vessel still above water, tilted on its side. Why on earth would you abandon ship if there was no real need to? I understand there was widespread panic, and there were hundreds of people fighting over lifejackets and such....but really, I am going the way of Jack in Titanic: if I am getting off that ship, its at the very last possible second. Plus it looks like you could swim to shore in about 10 seconds. The fact that anyone died speaks to the incompetence of the crew, which seems to be the consensus in every interview I've seen with survivors. But, a ship that size listing side to side, then tilting at such an angle the way it did had to be a terrifying experience regardless of the circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) I said this to my wife while we were watching the news. I don't get it. Maybe it had something to do with the ship sucking them under or something. Or maybe there were that many that could not swim. I mean you know there are a ton of people on that ship and all trying to get off would cause some crazy panic. I am very buoyant and know how to tread water. My ass would have jumped and made the swim. ----------------------- Came back to edit. I just thought of the fact that this happened at night. I am not sure if there was any lights that would even let people know how close they were to land. That may have added to the extreme confusion of getting 4k people off the ship and might have stopped people like me from jumping in to swim a short distance. Edited January 17, 2012 by Skippy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 The ship hit the rock around 9:45 at night, then there is a blackout, and then the ships starts listing pretty decently about an hour later. My guess is that many people didn't know how close to shore they were, nor did they know that the water was so shallow that the boat wouldn't completely sink. Finally, even off the coast of Italy, the water is still pretty freaking cold in mid-January. If this happens at 9:45 in the morning, I don't think you see the situation unfold as it did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I know at least one person was elderly and died of a heart attack. Those cruises typically have a lot of old people on them. Two others who died were elderly men who never left their room. Once a ship starts to tlit, imagine an old person trying to walk. I would suspect most or all of those who perished were old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 did it just tip over and no water gushed in or what Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 did it just tip over and no water gushed in or what The BBC story has a few pics so you can see. I believe the captain anchored the ship which kind of swung it closer into the shallow waters. For all the fck ups that captain did it seems like that one positive thing probably helped during the crisis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I believe the captain anchored the ship which kind of swung it closer into the shallow waters. I think the most reasonable explanation for this action of the captain is that he thought it would make it easier for him to safely get onshore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuke'em ttg Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 The BBC story has a few pics so you can see. I believe the captain anchored the ship which kind of swung it closer into the shallow waters. For all the fck ups that captain did it seems like that one positive thing probably helped during the crisis. Thanks Not doin an evac drill from the get go was messed up wouldn't that be step 1....it was when we cruised, i hated it but at least i had a clue where ta go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 I think the most reasonable explanation for this action of the captain is that he thought it would make it easier for him to safely get onshore. Cynic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Irish Doggy Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Bit of Monday morning QBing here. That boat starts listing, I think everyone would have "abandon ship" on their mind. Shame on Carnival for all their positive spin too. Sounds like Kevin Bacon in Animal House: "All is well." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Bit of Monday morning QBing here. That boat starts listing, I think everyone would have "abandon ship" on their mind. Shame on Carnival for all their positive spin too. Sounds like Kevin Bacon in Animal House: "All is well." Hopefully they get their pants sued off. The passengers' stories of the crew's incompetence are astonishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Hopefully they get their pants sued off. The passengers' stories of the crew's incompetence are astonishing. you do realize this did not happen in the U.S. Litigation will happen, but it will be tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 you do realize this did not happen in the U.S. Litigation will happen, but it will be tough. Of course. Just seems like such a glaring case of negligence, there has to be some accountability. I can't imagine how I would feel if my grandparents had perished because of this idiot captain's carelessness. On that subject I hope he gets prosecuted too. The Italians do seem to enjoy that at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 American cruise lines have a drill about abondoning ship before the ship leaves the dock. In Europe the abondon ship drill is required within the first 24 hours of the cruise. Apparently the drill had not yet been done and thus the added confusion. No one abandons a ship until the captain gives the order to do so. Plenty of blame to go around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Of course. Just seems like such a glaring case of negligence, there has to be some accountability. Sounds like they are might charge the captain with manslaughter. It'll be interesting to see what the black boxes say because this story just has weird written all over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 this story just has weird written all over it. Yeah, I think I'll steer this million-ton floating city a little closer to shore so this crew member can wave to his home town? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTed46 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 captain played drunk chicken with the rock. he lost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Yesterday on the ride home I heard that the ship was right on the precipice of a shelf with a VERY deep drop off, and that there was a real danger of the ship (somehow) falling off that shelf and being lost. But that's pretty much the first and last that I've heard of the entire story and I wasn't really paying much attention to it.... so there's that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 When in doubt, abandon. Ship and hop into a cab. That Captain is gonna go down hard. They sure didn't waste much time arresting his gutless ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Yeah, I think I'll steer this million-ton floating city a little closer to shore so this crew member can wave to his home town? Exactly. And it's not like these guys don't travel the same routes over and over. A typical cruise ship in the Carribean will either do the same route constantly or they might change between Eastern and Western every other week. I mean, you aren't really exploring the open seas in some viking ship. You're on a mega ship with 4k people doing a bus route around some tropical islands. Not hitting rocks should be a fairly easy thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 transcript between coast guard and captain. what a Rosie O'Donnell As translated by Reuters, the entire conversation went as follows: Coast Guard: Hello. Captain: Good evening, chief. Coast Guard: Listen, this is De Falco from Livorno. Am I speaking with the captain? Captain: Good evening, Chief De Falco. Coast Guard: Tell me your name, please. Captain: I am Captain Schettino, chief. Coast Guard: Schettino? Captain: Yes. Coast Guard: Listen, Schettino. There are people trapped on board. Now, you go with your lifeboat. Under the bow of the ship, on the right side, there is a ladder. You climb on that ladder and go on board the ship. Go on board the ship and get back to me and tell me how many people are there. Is that clear. I am recording this conversation, Captain Schettino. (Captain tries to speak but Coast Guard can’t hear him clearly. Voices in the Coast Guard room.) Coast Guard: Speak up! (captain tries to speak) Captain, put your hand over the microphone and speak in a louder voice! Captain: At this moment the ship is listing. Coast Guard: There are people who are coming down the ladder on the bow. Go back in the opposite direction, get back on the ship, and tell me how many people there are and what they have on board. Tell me if there are children, women and what type of help they need. And you tell me the number of each of these categories. Is that clear? Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board! (Noise can be heard in the background. Apparently other Coast Guard officers are shouting to each other in the same room about “the ship, the ship”) Captain: Please … Coast Guard: There is no ‘please’ about it. Get back on board. Assure me you are going back on board! Captain: I’m in a lifeboat, I am under here. I am not going anywhere. I am here. Coast Guard: What are you doing, captain? Captain: I am here to coordinate the rescue… Coast Guard (interrupting): What are you coordinating there! Get on board! Coordinate the rescue from on board! Are you refusing? Captain: No, I am not refusing. Coast Guard: Are you refusing to go aboard, captain? Tell me the reason why you are not going back on board. Captain: (inaudible)… there is a another lifeboat… Coast Guard (interrupting, yelling): You get back on board! That is an order! There is nothing else for you to consider. You have sounded the “Abandon Ship.” Now I am giving the orders. Get back on board. Is that clear? Don’t you hear me? Captain: I am going aboard. Coast Guard: Go! Call me immediately when you are on board. My rescue people are in front of the bow. Captain: Where is your rescue craft? Coast Guard: My rescue craft is at the bow. Go! There are already bodies, Schettino. Go! Captain: How many bodies are there? Coast Guard: I don’t know! … Christ, you should be the one telling me that! Captain: Do you realize that it is dark and we can’t see anything? Coast Guard: So, what do you want to do, to go home, Schettino?! It’s dark and you want to go home? Go to the bow of the ship where the ladder is and tell me what needs to be done, how many people there are, and what they need! Now! Captain: My second in command is here with me. Coast Guard: Then both of you go! Both of you! What is the name of your second in command? Captain: His name is Dmitri (static)” Coast Guard: What is the rest of his name? (static) You and your second in command get on board now! Is that clear? Captain: Look, chief, I want to go aboard but the other lifeboat here has stopped and is drifting. I have called … Coast Guard (interrupting): You have been telling me this for an hour! Now, go aboard! Get on board, and tell me immediately how many people there are! Captain: OK, chief. Coast Guard: Go! Immediately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt770 Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 Captain: Where is your rescue craft? Coast Guard: My rescue craft is at the bow. Go! There are already bodies, Schettino. Go! Captain: How many bodies are there? Coast Guard: I don’t know! … Christ, you should be the one telling me that! Captain: Do you realize that it is dark and we can’t see anything? Coast Guard: So, what do you want to do, to go home, Schettino?! It’s dark and you want to go home? Go to the bow of the ship where the ladder is and tell me what needs to be done, how many people there are, and what they need! Now! Captain: My second in command is here with me. Coast Guard: Then both of you go! Both of you! What is the name of your second in command? Captain: His name is Dmitri (static)” Coast Guard: What is the rest of his name? (static) You and your second in command get on board now! Is that clear? Captain: Look, chief, I want to go aboard but the other lifeboat here has stopped and is drifting. I have called … Coast Guard (interrupting): You have been telling me this for an hour! Now, go aboard! Get on board, and tell me immediately how many people there are! Captain: OK, chief. Coast Guard: Go! Immediately! Screw the passengers, I'm safe. Hang this Brooklyn Decker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yo mama Posted January 17, 2012 Share Posted January 17, 2012 It's a tragedy, to be sure. But, for some perceptive, more people are mauled to death in the US by pit bulls annually than were killed this tragic boat wreck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joessfl Posted January 18, 2012 Share Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board! I think that goal was accomplished without the Coast Guard having to do much. It will be interesting to see what Italy does. Considering they kept an American woman incarcerated for a long time without iron clad evidence, this guy should be in real big trouble. Edited January 18, 2012 by Joessfl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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