Image of the capsized Costa Concordia on 14 January 2012.

ROME, May 22 (Reuters) – The captain of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which capsized off Italy’s west coast last year killing 32 people, will face trial for manslaughter as well as other charges, an Italian judge ruled on Wednesday.

The giant Costa Concordia flipped on its side outside the Tuscan port of Giglio in January last year after it struck rocks during a manoeuvre that brought it too close to the shore.

The accident triggered a chaotic night-time evacuation of more than 4,000 passengers and crew from the 290-metre-long ship (951-ft), which still rests on a rock shelf outside the port.

WATCH: Costa Concordia Shipwreck Like You’ve Never Seen Before

Captain Francesco Schettino left the ship before all the ship’s crew and passengers had been taken ashore.

A judge in the Tuscan city of Grosseto ordered Schettino to be tried for multiple manslaughter, abandoning ship and other charges, with the first hearing set for July 9, Schettino’s lawyer Francesco Pepe told Reuters.

If found guilty, Schettino could face up to 20 years in jail, according to Pepe.

Prosecutors rejected a plea bargain offer from Schettino last month but accepted those of five other officials, including four ship’s officers and the crisis coordinator of the vessel’s owners, Costa Cruises.

Costa Cruises, a unit of Carnival Corp , agreed to pay a 1-million-euro ($1.29 million) fine to settle potential criminal charges in April. That means that Schettino will be the only person tried for the maritime disaster.

“We expected from the beginning that he would be put on trial,” Schettino’s lawyer Pepe said. He argues that his client has been made a scapegoat for the accident.

The judge on Wednesday also rejected Schettino’s request to use new evidence in the case that Pepe said would “clarify” that there were other factors in the accident beyond the captain’s control.

A recording of a coastguard officer ordering Schettino to “get back aboard, damn it!” in a furious telephone call spawned a popular catchphrase that was printed on T-shirts in Italy.

(c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions

Two quadcopters approach the Costa Concordia wreck site in this screengrab from the video below.

The Costa Concordia wreck site sets the backdrop for this quadcopter promotional video just posted to Youtube from a company called Team Black Sheep.

The video opens with the following message:

This video was shot at the location of a tragic accident. It is not our interest to gain attention on the backs of those who have lost loved ones. This video is supposed to be a showcase for possible UAV applications. Our goal is to display the stranded ship in a never-before seen way. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who drowned on this day and we are hoping for a swift removal to reveal again the underlying beauty of Giglio Island, Italy.

Check it out…

The filmers of this particular video were apparently arrested for their work, since picture taking is banned at the site, but “[Team Black Sheep] does not approve of censorship and therefore will always ignore such rules.” Lucky for us, I guess.

gCaptain Coverage: Costa Concordia Salvage

This isn’t the first amazing footage of a ship shot from a quadcopter either. You can also view some previously posted ship quadcopter videos.

Capt. Francesco Schettino in an interview following the wreck.

GROSSETO, Italy, May 14 (Reuters) – Prosecutors rejected a plea bargain offer by the captain of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which capsized off Italy’s west coast last year with the loss of 32 lives, lawyers said on Tuesday.

Captain Francesco Schettino is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship. He has admitted making mistakes but says he should not be the only one blamed for the disaster.

State prosecutors accepted plea bargains for five other officials, including four ship’s officers and the crisis coordinator of the vessel’s owners, Costa Cruises.

The prosecutors said they had rejected Schettino’s offer to serve three years and four months in prison as he he bore most responsibility for the disaster. The other officers had played a “marginal” role, they said.

The giant Costa Concordia went down just outside the Tuscan port of Giglio in January last year after it struck rocks off the coast of the picturesque holiday island during a manoeuvre which brought the doomed vessel close to the shore.

SEE ALSO: Costa Concordia Salvage Update

The accident triggered a chaotic night-time evacuation of more than 4,000 passengers and crew from the 290-metre-long ship, which is still lying on its side on a rock shelf just outside the port.

A recording of a coastguard ordering Schettino to “get back aboard, damn it!” in a furious telephone call to the captain spawned a popular catchphrase that was printed on t-shirts in Italy.

“It must be reiterated that the accused Schettino almost exclusively carries the weight for the striking chain of errors committed,” the Grosetto state prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

Schettino’s lawyer Francesco Pepe told reporters that they had always intended to fight the case at trial and had only entered the plea bargain because the five other defendants had done so, leaving the captain isolated as potentially the sole defendant on trial.

“We think now we will go to trial. We want the details of what really happened to come to light,” Schettino’s lawyer, Francesco Pepe told reporters.

The presiding judge is expected to rule on whether or not to approve the plea bargains for the other five by the end of the week.

“I can only tell you that anyone who has been in a position of authority would feel very, very depressed, exactly as he feels,” Pepe said.

(Reporting by Silvia Ognibene and Antonio Denti; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

(c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions

Photo via Giglio’s facebook

The first caissons, or sponsons, have been installed on the port side of the Costa Concordia.

The operation was carried out using the dynamically positioned heavy lift ship Svenja, which is owned and operated by SAL Heavy Lift.

Once in place, the caissons, which are large watertight chambers, will be filled with water to help upright the ship. The installation of the caissons is part of second stage of the salvage of the Costa Concordia.

According to the photos posted to Giglio’s facebook, at least two caissons have been installed. In total, 17 caisson’s will be installed on the port side.

Photo via Giglio facebook

Photo via Giglio facebook

Photo via Giglio facebook

See Also:

• Crews Install Largest of Five Subsea Support Platforms
• Costa Concordia Salvage Plan in Photos

File photo. Francesco Schettino during an interview following the January 2012 Costa Concordia disaster.

By Silvia Ognibene

GROSSETO, Italy, April 15 (Reuters) – An Italian judge began hearing a request on Monday to send the former captain of the Costa Concordia and five other ship’s officers to trial over the accident which sank the liner with the loss of 32 lives in January 2012.

Prosecutors are seeking to have the 52-year-old captain, Francesco Schettino, tried on charges including manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship.

Schettino, appeared in court in the Tuscan town of Grosseto wearing a grey suit and blue striped tie for the opening of the pre-trial hearings, which are expected to run until April 24.

If convicted, he could face 20 years in jail but his lawyer said the case should not go to trial.

“This was an accident at work. You cannot criminalise a man because he had an accident while working,” Francesco Pepe told reporters during a break in the hearing.

Judge Pietro Molino will also consider whether five other officers should face charges ranging from manslaughter to failure to cooperate with marine authorities.

The luxury liner had just begun a Mediterranean cruise when it came too close to shore, hitting a rock that tore a gash in its hull and causing it to capsize in shallow waters just outside the port of Giglio.

Both Schettino and the ship’s owners Costa Cruises were heavily criticised over both the accident and the chaotic night-time evacuation of more than 4,000 passengers and crew. Costa paid 1 million euros ($1.31 million) to settle potential criminal charges although the payment did not affect civil lawsuits.

The other people who could face trial are bridge officers Ciro Ambrosio and Silvia Coronica, helmsman Jacob Rusli, cabin services manager Manrico Giampedroni and the fleet crisis coordinator, Roberto Ferrarini.

Separately, lawyers for the local government in Giglio said it was seeking at least 80 million euros in damages from Costa.

A lawyer for the company, a unit of the world’s largest cruise operator, Carnival Cruises, part of Carnival Corp , said it aimed to compensate parties that had suffered.

“We will not try to avoid our responsibilities to compensate those who genuinely suffered loss,” Alessandro Carella said following Monday’s hearing.

Another Costa lawyer, Marco De Luca, said the company should be allowed to seek damages for the loss of the cruise liner, a position opposed by lawyers representing victims of the crash.

“Apart from the victims, Costa is the one that suffered the most damage. We lost a 500 million-euro ($655-million) ship,” De Luca told the court.

Schettino was held up to ridicule after investigators of the accident said he brought the 290-metre-long (951-ft) Concordia too close to shore in a manoeuvre meant to “salute” Giglio island, and then left his ship before the evacuation was complete.

A coastguard’s telephoned order to the captain, “Get back on board, damn it!” became a catch phrase in Italy after the accident prompted a bout of national soul-searching over responsibility and leadership during times of crisis. ($1 = 0.7635 euros) (Writing by Naomi O’Leary; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

(c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions

Last week, the largest subsea platform used to upright the ship was installed as salvage efforts move forward. Photo: Parbuckling Project

By Silvia Ognibene

GROSSETO, Italy, April 10 (Reuters) – Costa Cruises, the unit of Carnival Corp that owned and operated the capsized cruise liner Costa Concordia, has accepted a 1 million-euro ($1.31 million) fine to settle potential criminal charges concerning last year’s deadly accident off the coast of Italy, a company spokesman said on Wednesday.

Costa Cruises had been under investigation as the employer of the crew of the Concordia when it hit a rock off Tuscany in January last year, killing 32 people.

The prosecution is satisfied with the ruling by the preliminary court judge, Valeria Montesarchio, and will not appeal, prosecution sources said, adding that the fine was close to the maximum allowed by law.

Sea Also: Costa Concordia Salvage Update

The settlement means Costa will not face a criminal trial and ends its potential liability with the state of Italy, but not private lawsuits brought by passengers or crew, the prosecution sources said.

“This is a balanced decision,” Costa Cruises lawyer Marco De Luca said after the ruling. “It is the most reasonable solution.”

The company spokesman confirmed De Luca’s comments, originally made to Italian media, and said the company had no further statement.

A criminal trial is expected to proceed for the individuals targeted by prosecutors.

Captain Francesco Schettino remains accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship, which was carrying more than 4,000 passengers and crew, and could face up to 20 years in jail.

Schettino steered the ship close to shore in a manoeuvre known as a “salute”, striking a rock that tore a gash in its hull. The 290-metre-long (950 ft) Concordia came to rest on its side, half submerged, where it now rests awaiting salvage.

Five other members of the crew including Schetttino’s first officer, and three members of a crisis unit set up by Costa to handle the accident, also face indictment and trial.

Costa Cruises will, as previously announced, seek damages for the loss of the vessel as a civil party in the criminal case when it begins, De Luca said.

(c) 2013 Thomson Reuters, Click For Restrictions

Platform 1 being lifted into place. Photo: Parbuckling Project

The salvage operation to remove the Costa Concordia cruise ship from the shores of Giglio hit a milestone today when crews positioned the largest of five subsea support platforms onto the seabed next to the wreck.

The platform, known as Platform No. 1, will be secured to the granite seabed in order to provide support when uprighting the ship.

FULL COVERAGE: Costa Concordia Salvage

Platform no. 1 was built at the Rosetti shipyard in Marina di Ravenna and weighs about 1,000 tonnes. It measures 40m by 33m, is 22m tall and is supported by 5 big pillars almost 2m in diameter.

The operation was carried out using the dynamically positioned heavy lift ship Svenja, which is owned and operated by SAL Heavy Lift.

At about 8:30 a.m., the Svenja lifted the structure from a barge and positioned it into place below the Costa Concordia using its two large cranes.

So far, three smaller platforms have been installed below the wreck near the ship’s stern.

Photo: Parbuckling Project

Photo: Island of Giglio Facebook

Photo: Parbuckling Project

Photo: Parbuckling Project

Once installed, cranes will be fixed to the subsea platform and will pull the ship upright, helped by watertight caissons which will be filled with water. Once upright, more caissons will be installed to the ships starboard side and then emptied to re-float the ship. Image: Titan/Micoperi

See Also: Costa Concordia Salvage Plan in Pictures

The salvage plan calls for the ship to be pulled upright onto a platform and refloated using sponsons. Image: Titan/Micoperi

Officials in Italy on Friday decided that the Costa Concordia will be towed to the Port of Piombino in Tuscany for disassembly after being re-floated this fall.

Piombino (A) Giglio (B)

The Associated Press reports that Piombino was selected due to its proximity to the wreck site, and because it is the most economically and environmentally sound choice.

The Costa Concordia will be refloated in one piece with the help of 30 steel sponsons attached to both sides of the ship and filled with air.

The ship is expected to be moved in September, although the AP report says that ongoing construction at the port could delay the removal until sometime in early 2014.

The latest update from the project’s website said that the first sea bottom platforms used to secure the ship upright were installed in February. The salvage is being carried out by the Italian-American Titan-Micoperi consortium.

Related: Photo Tour of Costa Concordia Salvage Plan

The Costa Concordia pictured on Jan. 14, 2012, just one day after it partially sank in Italy.

During an ICS Board meeting held Tuesday in London, members of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) expressed their frustrations with Italy for failing to provide a final casualty report into the Costa Concordia tragedy, now over one year after the ship ran aground and partially sank.

In a statement, the ICS Board welcomed measures taken by the International Maritime Organization to enhance cruise ship safety since the incident, but slammed Italy for failing to provide its final casualty report.

“The response of IMO so far has been measured and reasonable and we have been impressed by the commitment amongst governments to avoid knee jerk reactions” said CS Chairman, Masamichi Morooka. “But IMO is under increasing pressure to take forward far more radical steps in advance of Italy publishing the complete results of its accident investigation, which it has still singularly failed to do. Given the seriousness of the disaster, which happened over a year ago, this failure by Italy is simply unacceptable. We still have no official understanding of what the underlying causes were with respect to an accident that really should never have happened.”

ICS says that it believes that the Costa Concordia tragedy has highlighted the seemingly inadequate obligations on the part of flag states to submit the results of accident investigations to IMO.  ICS adds that the impasse created by the failure of Italy to report definitively on such a serious casualty indicates that action may be needed in an area where other flag states are also commonly guilty with respect to less high profile incidents which are nevertheless serious and from which important safety lessons could be learned.

During the meeting, the ICS Board agreed that, in discussion with governments, ICS will take forward proposals to IMO as to how the obligations of flag states with respect to casualty reports might be strengthened.