Upon departure from the port of a Giglio, an island off the northwestern coast of Italy, the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a reef, tearing a 50 meter-long gash in her hull. Reports indicate the ship’s captain, Commander Paolillo, attempted to steer the ship toward shallower waters to enable an easier lifeboat evacuation. A reported 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew were onboard when she grounded.
The following photos have appeared on several sites without attribution and are unverified as of Monday morning.
The following is aerial footage of the partially submerged cruise ship, and the rescue operations early this morning, courtesy of Russia Today:
The initial report via Sky News:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_8EFPmSZUs
It seems Costa Cruises website is down most likely due to heavy traffic but the company has made the following statements regarding the incident via their twitter, @costacruises
@costacruises: Costa Cruises confirms the evacuation of about 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members on board of the Costa Concordia off Italian coast.
@costacruises: Costa expresses deep appreciation to Coast Guard, Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza, Polizia di Stato, Marina Militare and citizens of Giglio
After two weeks as a “ghost ship” drifting across the Mediterranean, the abandoned Russian?flagged LNG carrier Arctic?Metagaz has returned to Libyan search?and?rescue waters, still leaking gas and still posing what Italian authorities call a “substantial hazard.”
US allies deflected President Donald Trump’s demands to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, expressing unease about getting pulled into the war in Iran.
In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers stressed that they did not want to escalate the war, treading cautiously about even redirecting an existing Red Sea naval mission to the vital passage for energy shipments. In Japan, officials said there were no plans to dispatch ships to escort stalled tankers. The UK similarly wouldn’t commit to a full naval mission.
An Australian expedition cruise ship grounded on a reef while approaching a remote harbor in Papua New Guinea after a last-minute route modification in the ship’s electronic navigation system delayed...
March 13, 2026
Total Views: 3773
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 107,492 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 107,492 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Join The Club
