by InTrieste
In a chilling anniversary, Italy somberly commemorates 12 years since the Costa Concordia cruise ship catastrophe, a maritime disaster etched into the nation’s history as one of the worst. On January 13, 2012, this opulent vessel, carrying 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew members, veered off course during a serene Mediterranean cruise, culminating in a tragedy that claimed 32 lives.
The ill-fated luxury liner, under the command of Captain Francesco Schettino, was en route from the port of Civitavecchia, located 60 kilometers north of Rome, to Savona in Italy’s northern Liguria region. It was on this night that Schettino, in a misguided display of audacity, directed the colossal 292-meter-long ship toward the shores of Giglio, a small island off the west coast of Italy, intending to execute a daring “salute.”
The recklessness of this maneuver proved catastrophic, as the Costa Concordia struck jagged rocks in shallow waters around 21:45. The impact carved a 53-meter-long gash in the port-side hull, breaching five compartments, including the critical engine room. The consequences were dire – the 114,500-ton cruise liner rapidly took on water, leading to a cascade of failures that rendered the vessel powerless. Propulsion and electrical systems failed, and with the rudder disabled, the ship became an uncontrollable behemoth adrift in perilous waters. The tragedy unfolded in calm seas, forever altering the fate of the Costa Concordia and leaving an indelible mark on maritime history.
