Francesco Schettino, infamously dubbed “Captain Coward” by the media, became the face of the Costa Concordia disaster. In January 2012, the cruise ship departed from Civitavecchia, Italy, for a week-long voyage. Tragically, it struck rocks in the Tyrrhenian Sea and sank, resulting in 32 deaths and a 16-year prison sentence for Schettino. This incident dominated Italian news but is only one of several cruise ship disasters in recent memory.
A Voyage Gone Wrong
On January 13, 2012, the Costa Concordia set sail with 3,200 passengers and over 1,000 crew members. Schettino deviated from the planned route to perform a “salute” by sailing close to Giglio Island. During this maneuver, the ship struck submerged rocks, tearing the hull and disabling the controls. The vessel lost power and began drifting, leading to chaos and a poorly managed evacuation that resulted in 32 fatalities. As the ship capsized, passengers scrambled over the hull to reach Coast Guard rescuers.
The Captain Abandons Ship
Schettino faced harsh criticism for abandoning the ship alongside other officers. He initially claimed he fell into a lifeboat by accident, later stating he left to coordinate the rescue from the shore. Meanwhile, a recorded exchange surfaced, capturing the Coast Guard furiously commanding Schettino to return to the vessel.
“Get Back on Board!”
In a now-famous recording, Coastguard Captain Gregorio De Falco shouted, “Listen, Schettino, maybe you’ve saved yourself, but I’ll make you pay for this. Get back on board, damn it!”
Schettino, speaking from a lifeboat, claimed he was directing the rescue remotely, insisting it was too dark to see clearly. De Falco retorted, “It’s dark and you want to go home? Get to the bow, see what needs to be done, and report back. Now!”
Why Did the Ship Change Course?
During the trial, several explanations emerged for the detour. Schettino testified he wanted to give passengers a scenic view, pay tribute to a retired captain on the island, and do a favor for the head of the waitstaff. He admitted to conducting these “fly-bys” to entertain passengers but denied allegations that he was trying to impress his lover, Domnica Cemortan, who was reportedly on the bridge with him. Though he accepted partial responsibility, he also blamed other crew members for the tragedy.
Schettino’s Legal Battle
In 2015, Schettino was sentenced to 16 years for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, abandoning passengers, and dereliction of duty. He recently made headlines by requesting “semi-liberty,” a program that allows prisoners with good behavior to serve the remainder of their sentence outside of prison. His hearing is scheduled for March 2025, as reported by the Maritime Executive.
Other Cruise Disasters
Cruise ship tragedies aren’t limited to human error. In 2014, the MS Explorer of the Seas faced a different crisis—a virus outbreak. A norovirus spread through the ship, infecting 630 passengers and 50 crew members, forcing many into the infirmary, according to NPR.
Pirate Hijacking
In 2005, the Seabourn Spirit luxury cruise faced a pirate attack off the coast of Somalia. Armed assailants fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the ship. Fortunately, the vessel escaped, and no passengers were harmed, though one crew member was injured, as CBS News reported. This incident inspired the Tom Hanks film, Captain Phillips.
“The Poop Cruise”
In 2013, a fire on the Carnival Triumph disabled its power, leaving the ship adrift for four days. During this time, there was no air conditioning, limited food and water, and no working toilets, leading to unsanitary conditions with sewage-filled bags lining the hallways. An investigation revealed that only four out of six generators were functional when the ship departed, despite known fire hazards, according to CNN.
