Coast Guard Cmdr. Filippo Marini said divers had recovered the so-called "black box," with the recording of the navigational details, from a compartment now under water. The captain of a grounded cruise ship is heard in a recording making excuses as an Italian coast guard official repeatedly orders him to get back on his crippled ship. In a telephone conversation, the official berates the captain, who is on a lifeboat and repeatedly says he doesn't want to return to the ship even as passengers are still being evacuated. The ship struck a rock Friday evening and capsized. The officer tells Francesco Schettino to reboard and assess the needs of passengers: "It is an order. Don't make any more excuses." Schettino has insisted he stayed aboard until the ship was evacuated, but the recording of his conversation with Italian Coast Guard Capt. Gregorio De Falco indicates he fled before all passengers were off -- and then resisted De Falco's repeated orders to return. "You go on board and then you will tell me how many people there are. Is that clear?" De Falco shouted in the audio tape. Schettino resisted, saying the ship was tipping and that it was dark. At the time, he was in a lifeboat and said he was coordinating the rescue from there. De Falco shouted back: "And so what? You want go home, Schettino? It is dark and you want to go home? Get on that prow of the boat using the pilot ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what their needs are. Now!" "You go aboard. It is an order. Don't make any more excuses. You have declared the abandoning of the ship, now I am in charge," De Falco shouted. Schettino is finally heard agreeing to reboard. It is unclear whether he did. source LOL. The prosecution will be the least of Captain Schettino's worries. His name will probably be found in future Italian dictionaries, as a synonym of coward. His poor kids.
What happened to the Costa Concordia and the people aboard is disgusting. I don't care how scared the captain may have been, he should have been the last one off the ship, no excuses. He was ultimately responsible for every person on that ship, he should have stayed until it was obvious there was no more he could do. Let's see what results the inquiry will come up with.
It appears that the "brave" captain Schettinoed his pants.Captain Courage then ordered "abandon ship" from the safety of the dry shore.Really not much of a story here.Just an unworthy man placed in a position of authority and trust,a position that clearly he didn't deserve.
I think there should be an investigation as to how such an incompetent was made captain of a cruise liner.
May be, he was elected? Btw, in a few years American submarines and destroyers and Navy in general will have affirmative -action class of captains and admirals. So better get used to it