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Subscribe to RSSOfficials have called off the search for missing people in the submerged part of the sunken ship. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Italy's Civil Protection agency said Tuesday that technical studies indicated that the deformed hull of the ship created too many safety concerns to continue the search. It said in a statement that relatives and diplomatic officials representing the countries of the missing have been informed of the decision.
A spokeswoman for Civil Protection, Francesca Maffini, stressed that the search for the missing would continue wherever possible, including on the part of the ship above the water, in the waters surrounding the ship and along the nearby coastline.
The Concordia ran aground off the island of Giglio on Jan. 13 when the captain deviated from his planned route and struck a reef, creating a huge gash that capsized the ship.
The ship, precariously resting on one side, will likely be a part of the scenery off the Italian island of Giglio for the better part of a year.
The cruise line is considering bids for the ship's removal and is expected to make a decision -- based on method and costs -- in two months, NBC News has learned. Actual removal could take up to 10 months.
Inclement weather over the weekend shut down search and salvage efforts at the site of the ship wreck off the Tuscan coast. High winds and rough seas delayed plans to begin pumping 500,000 gallons of fuel off the Concordia. That effort will likely continue midweek. A barge carrying pumping equipment that was attached to the capsized ship was withdrawn after strong winds and high waves worsened conditions for the divers working on the huge wreck.
The operation, aimed at preventing an environmental disaster in the pristine waters off a marine nature reserve, could take up to one month to complete.
Residents of Giglio have been circulating a petition to demand that officials provide more information on how the full-scale operations can co-exist with the important tourism season. At the moment, access to the port for private boats has been banned and all boats must stay at least one mile from the wrecked ship, affecting access to Giglio's only harbor for fishermen, scuba divers and private boat owners.
"We are really sorry, we would have preferred to save them all. But now other needs and other problems arise," said Franca Melils, a local business owner who is promoting a petition for the tourist season. "It's about us, who work and make a living exclusively from tourism. We don't have factories, we don't have anything else."
DigitalGlobe
The Costa Concordia, carrying more than 4,200 passengers, ran aground Jan. 13 off the coast of Italy. At least 15 people died in the accident, and rescuers continue to search for others missing.
Carnival Corp. said on Monday that it will take a hit between $155 million and $175 million against fiscal 2012 net income because of the Concordia wreck. In an annual report filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Carnival also said it significantly reduced its marketing activities after the wreck.
"Costa's booking activity is difficult to interpret because of the significant re-booking activity stemming from the loss of the ship's use and related re-deployments," the company said. "However, we believe it to be down significantly. Despite these recent trends, we believe the incident will not have a significant long-term impact on our business."
Related: Passengers on wrecked ship offered $14,460
The Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, is under house arrest, suspected of causing the accident by steering too close to shore, and faces charges of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship before the evacuation was complete.
The ship's first officer, Ciro Ambrosio, has also been questioned by prosecutors but the company itself has not been implicated in the investigation at this stage.
NBC News, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Rough seas shut down cruise ship search, salvage efforts
- 17th body found on wrecked Italy cruise ship
- Captain says he was told to perform fatal maneuver
- Woman's body found aboard stricken Italian cruise ship
- PhotoBlog: Madonna recovered from Costa Concordia
Leave a Comment:
It's sad that so many aren't going to get closure. I hope they do help people recover their belongings and find the missing people as the clean up continues. I know they are not specifically looking for the missing, but may find them while clearing up the mess on the ocean floor or as they get the ship off the reef over time.
I just wonder if they have searched for bodies near the reef that they hit first for missing people.
There will be closure it's just will have to wait till they can either raise the ship upright or when they start to dismantle it. It is sad that some have to wait so much longer than others to reclaim their loved ones. It's will take a very long time to resolve this.
Deborah,
Wow, I doubt anyone thought about searching for bodies near the reef! You're a genius!
If there are sharks in the water some may never be found.
@Jim- she was just thinking aloud, you don't have to act like a giant douchebag.
I think Jim was honestly complementing the first comment. I thought exactly the same - that Deborah really made a good suggestion.
I don't think so. I think he's being a smart a$$.
"We believe we can win in Florida and we are going to go forward, forward, forward without fear until they don't know what hit them … sort of like the Concordia.”
LOL that's kinda funny.
Q: What's the difference between a lawyer and a leech?
A: When you die, a leech will stop sucking your blood and drop off.
They want to give $14,460..they figure they are being nice about this since the passengers signed their tickets which is a contract saying they are not responsible for things that happen (accidents causing injury/sickness, property damaged or loss, etc.).
Problem they forgot..this was recklessness by one of their employees and its a criminal charge against him and the owners...they can take that contract on the ticket and shove it up their CUZZO!
What happen is a whole new ballgame beyond their contract wording.
All the cruise lines have ship registry in countries like tiny countries like Liberia and Moldavia? I knew a couple British employees and they described "punishment." They would sort out, what they felt, were underachievers, lock them in a engine level conference room for a "chat." The room had a large thermometer in Celsius and Fahrenheit, so they could all tell when the temperature rose to 90, them 95, then 100, climbing to 115. They would have department heads come in for 45 minutes at a time and scream at them, belittling them. It happens on that rare shore time that they take away for this party.
I firmly believe that the reason they get by with much of their wrong is lack of accountability. I hope they take a massive bite out of Carnival's bottom line. And--I wish the courts would cap the legal fees at 20% or less than the awards.
At $460 million its still small per person..around $115K - $120k per person..and this $460 million law suit is just for the 'Survivors'..... those who died their families will sue galore much much more!
Yeah, let's see: only 500 of the passengers are represented in this suit, who are asking for $460 MILLION. Assuming the lawyers get about 50%, that leaves $230 mil to split between 500 people = $460,000 each. For what? 2 hours of stress? BS!! And please refrain from the "they will live this over and over in their minds each day for the rest of their lives" scenario...they will live it as many times as they wish because that is what some of them will WANT to do. Trust me, I'm sure they "reached out" to the news and talk shows already. With an attorney by their sides, placing emphasis on the "trauma" they will "endure" forever of course.
mike277
I was thinking the same think mike with the thought also that the lawyers will skim half off the top before the first claimant gets dime one. And that is all based on if it just remains 500 not the roughly 4000. Lawyers take half, 4000 claimants = about 57500 each and the cruise line will get to issue vouchers for future travel.
Its a class action lawsuit..any passenger (those who lived) who doesn't accept the $14,460 is part of the lawsuit.
Not sure about the crew..maybe they can sue.. there were over 1000 crew members and over 3000 passengers I believe.
First, they did not hit a reef; they hit a VERY large rock. There were pictures of it coming through the hull.
Second, as much as I feel for these people, and think that initial offer was total BS, I can't see how the U.S. can allow a claim in its courts. I could see it if they at least left from a Florida port, then you could claim the contract was unconscionable, but there is no legal tie to the U.S. The contract says Italy, and they were sailing in Italy.
I was part of a class action lawsuit back in the 70's and never knew it..I received a check for a few hundred dollars and I never really knew what it was about at first.
Was against Ford Motor Co., I happen to own a Ford Pinto..and they were ticking time bombs, the fuel tank was in the rear without proper protection and one good hit in the rear it blows up..never happen to me the car blowing up and I sold the Pinto to my ex-mother-in-law :)
One more thing: IF, big IF, they do manage to get it into a U.S. court, that little "contract" can go out the window for two reasons: 1) unconscionable (too one-sided to make it valid) 2) gross negligence.
Earlier I missed that Costa is also registered in Hollywood, FL, but I still think it will be a stretch for them to get it into a U.S Court.
JimColorado,
Comment towards Deborah really not polite at all...!!
mike277 - Try doing that calculation again, and this time use a calculator instead of your toes and fingers. The lawsuit represents 500 people who are suing for a total of 460 million. Last time I looked, that is 920,000 dollars each, IF the lawyers weren't taking a cut. We all know that those sharks will take at least a half or two-thirds, but that still leaves well over 115K per person.
since the passengers signed their tickets which is a contract saying they are not responsible for things that happen (accidents causing injury/sickness, property damaged or loss, etc.).
Negligence is not an accident. By deviating from their planned course the company becam liable for what happened and that phrase is not in effect especially if the captain is found to be negligent. How can he be arrested for manslaughter and this be called an accident?
The chance of anyone still being alive is so small there is no reason to continue with a search and risk further death. It is the right decision to just go forward with clearing the wreckage when weather conditions allow.
The missing bodies will be recovered when the ship is re floated.
I feel for the families, but reality is what it is.
I agree. Besides, some of dead may have floated out to sea and will never be found. I know that's easy for me to say when I don't have a relative who is missing. But there is zero chance that anyone will still be found alive, and also a good chance they won't even be found dead. It's time to get that ship removed so life can go on for the people on the island.
It really irks me when people are so cold blooded that all they can think of to say is, "it is what it is" and "life goes on".
You wouldn't be that cold if one of those people were your family member...say, daughter, son, mother father? Or maybe you would, who knows.
Life goes on only because unless you commit suicide after such an incident, you just don't die in the flesh, but believe me, you die in your heart.
Try to have some compassion. I know money doesn't take away the pain, but really, try to just have some compassion.
ConwayTwitter
It is the reality of life. Are you willing to be on the dive team searching for BODIES? Do you want to be the one explaining to the family of a dead RECOVERY diver why you just had to press on to find BODIES? There is a limit to compassion. That limit is when it endangers more lives than it will save. It sounds cold but it is the only practical view. If you feel otherwise, feel free to suit up an search.
trust_verify? whatever. I don't remember saying anything about sending more divers looking. Did you even READ my post, or are you just out looking for someone to throw a spit bomb at?
How can you be trusted to verify anything if you can't even read? Just sayin'
Thats pretty weak To me me it didnt even seem the ship was that far from shore. If i was a family member of one of the victims id be furious.
I would be to Stew416. And to think that one person caused all of this... Really sad. I will be glad when all of that fuel is removed..
I have read the company is investigating if the ship can be saved as a whole vs cut up and drug off. If they cut more holes into it to get to more of the dearly departed it could lesson the chance of saving the ship as a whole unit. There was pointless death because the captain did not follow the written rules of the company and the company many wish to keep from suffering "pointless" financial loss by cutting up the ship searching for those killed.
Dano: I don't agree that one person did all this. It took a village of CEOs, managers, and government bureaucrats to allow this Wine steward to captain this vessel.
I believe they will find more bodies once that ship is empty of water and upright :(
That could be as long as a year from now. And already bodies are deteriorated to the point that identification is difficult. A year from now, there will be little in the way of remains, especially in the water around Giglio which is quite warm.
I see the danger, but I also feel it is a bit too early to call off the search..I hope the families who are waiting can find closure of some sort. I know the conditions are harsh and I also realize that the loss of another life in order to recover the bodies would not be what they wanted as an outcome but I think that the search could go on a week or two more. As for all the lawsuits and legal matters.....SCREW that, these people who were not recovered were not a pawn in some sort of money making game. These were real people, with real famlies who will probably never feel real closure. I hope these people can find peace and hope during this time.
Very sad indeed. Sad for the families. Sad for the departed. Sad for the island that this has happened to. However, life must go on. Closure must be done. That fuel must be gotten out of the ship before it sinks. Reality is upon us. Time to move on.
With no realistic chance of finding survivors, it does not make sense to risk the lives of divers in a precarious wreck. The Italians are correct to concentrate on removing the immediate threat of a fuel spill, and getting the ship removed. Perhaps the rest of the remains will be found when the ship is righted and removed.
Only so much can be done for the victims and their families. Surely the Italian divers have done their best.
77,
I believe you probably summed it up...
Very sad. I hope the families find closure one way or another. To think a bad decision on the captain's part caused so much death, destruction, heartache and millions of dollars!
It's time for a plan to be in place for the removal of that ship. Removing 3 million pounds of fuel will place very different loads upon that hull. It's time to have a plan before removing the fuel.
Don't compound the bad decisions that the crew has already made, by doing something stupid.
Carnival is being cheap and stupid as far as the settlement offer is concerned! They should be offering AT LEAST $50,000 each. I wonder how many people are actually accepting their offer!
sorry I didnt mean to like this comment. I meant to hit reply...what does the dollar amount have to do with anything?? It doesnt change a thing. It is a sad sad situation and money doesn't stop the pain.
But it sure soothes a lot of lawyers. The pain of the families is a forever thing.
I prayed this morning for the families who have lost loved ones in this, and for the rescue personel who risked their lives to save another.
creflo31,
Bless you for that prayer..!!
$14,000.00 seems ok for the passengers that survived, however to the families that lost love ones....this figure is a another slap in the face.....
Another article stated that the $14K is only for people who were uninjured and is in addition to a full refund of the cruise price and transportation home. There is a different (undisclosed) settlement for those who were injured or killed.
If I were uninjured and received $14K ,a full refund and transportation home I would be thankful and appreciative.
I couldn't even imagine being caught in a air pocket on the deep inside the ship and nobody came.....I doubt anyone was but just the thought
It's time for some design changes including doors which unlock completely on a 30 degree list and rope ladders stored on the lower part of the door like an airplanes emergency slide in case the door becomes a ceiling.
This alone would likely have saved some, we will see.
The whole point of having water tight doors is to prevent the entire ship flooding and sinking with near total loss of life. Being able to open compartment doors into neighbouring sections would typically result in a higher loss of life, with little tangible benefit for those who are trapped.
We saw back in 1987 the effect of having no water tight compartments on a ship when the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized and sank with the loss of almost 200 passengers and crew. This mandated changes to the style of ferry including introduction of water tight compartments on the car deck to (if not prevent) at least reduce the rate at which a ship capsizes and thus give more time for the folks on board to get to the lifeboats and safety.
It's a sad fact that each disaster will entail experts analysing each aspect of the event and recommending (sometimes getting governments to mandate) improvements to be built into ships to improve their safety. We will see something come out of this disaster, but I doubt it will be doors that automatically unlock and jeopardise the safety of the rest of the ship.
Will you PLEASE stop saying "Sixth floor deck" in the articles??? It's called "Deck Six"!
Well, if MSNBC can say the ship "capsized", I guess they (or anyone else) can say "sixth floor deck". Look up the definition of capsized - it means to turn bottom up - not lay the ship over on its side.
Either way - I cannot even imagine what went thru the minds of those people who died - stuck below deck, dark, ship on its side (or heading that way fast) and no one to lead you out! God Almighty! I hope that they passed out before dying. Sue if you want - I want the captain and the crew to end up in jail for a very, very long time. Prayers to the families who lost someone.
Actually capsizing does also mean a ship rolling over onto its side without completely going ass over teakettle. So the Concordia is technically considered to have capsized. At least the reporter is correct on that point.
To JFC -- I thought of the same thing. This to me would be the saddest of all -- a trapped survivor, or survivors, waiting and waiting for someone to come, and then nothing. I hope this did not happen.
As I said in the begining, and is being reported here, It is all about money. The Costa cruise line will string this out, threatening the costal environment and stringing along the families, putting more money into PR and legal defense than moving their junk off the public reef. It is refreshing for them to admitt that money is their only motive.
While Costa is a questionable corporation (we never considered sailing them), I hope this doesn't sink Carnival's boat :/
this is a freakin joke,,,in 9 mos we had the 9/11 mess cleaned up and no one has done squat on this ship. The Italian Gov't is inept -they should take care of this and send the bill to Carnival,,,oops,,sorry,,they do not have the ability to do it either!
The coward bitch captain should just hang himself !! He is an embarrassment to the profession, his country and to his family.
You cant leave bodies just floating in there for fish to eat ...there has to be a way to make the repair and try and pull it to a semi level position...pump out water, and locate bodies.
We can send people to space and back , but we cant find trapped bodies in a ship so close to shore ? come on now !
Unfortunately, finding the bodies is somewhat like trying to find a black cat in a dark room. The time has come where fuel and other harmfull chemicals need to be removed from the ship to prevent an ecological disaster. The ship can be re-floated but even that is going to take a lot longer than you might think. Sad that the families of the victims will not have closure until these other issues are settled, if ever.
@RETIRED SFC...thanks for that bit of info...i just cant imagine having a loved one in there dead and just floating and being slowly eaten by fish....
Nor can I.
They don't want to kill people getting out dead bodies. Anyone who has dived (or is it dove?) a wreck or cave knows the dangers all too well...
They will get the victims, when it is safe, likely after the ship is righted, which will be after the fuel is pumped out.
$14000.00 is @!$%# to these peoples families.
14k was the offer to the passengers, not the families of the deceased
Is it time to send in the US Navy Seals to finish this mission?
Of the families of the missing, I would hope that they don't have to wait 10 more months to learn the fate of their loved ones. Those passengers who are now missing and presumed dead should be removed from the ship as safe conditions allow. This means soon and not in the next 10 months. I am appalled and that's with 2 peas.
Oh no! Don't end the search now! I'm sure the missing have been clinging on to life underwater for the past two and a half weeks still waiting to be rescued.