An Italian Cruise ship capsizes near Giglio

An Italian Liner cruising from Civita Vecchia Port through Barcelona to Majorca capsized a few kilometers from the port of departure last Friday. The accident happened after the ship hit a rock and ran aground near the island of Giglio, late on Friday. The reason for the incident is still under investigation. An unverified source claims that the command systems did not function as they should have and that the rock was not marked on any maritime charts of the area. The accident claimed the lives of three people and injuring about 70 of the 4000 people aboard the Costa Concordia. The vast hulk of the 290-metre-long cruise ship, resting half-submerged on its side, loomed over the little port of Giglio, a picturesque island in a maritime nature reserve off the Tuscan coast. A large gash was visible in its side.

The vessel's operator, Costa Crociere, a unit of Carnival Corp & Plc, the world's largest cruise company, said the Costa Concordia had been sailing on its regular course when it struck a submerged rock. It is said that the accident happened when passengers had just sat down to dinner, a few hours after leaving the port of Civitavecchia near Rome. A loud rumble was heard followed by falling of glasses and plates from the tables, the ship tilted and the lights went off. The ship was carrying mainly Italian passengers, but also British, Germans, French, Spanish, Americans and others. Many were elderly and some were in wheelchairs.

The task to evacuate passengers from the capsized ship was difficult and challenging. The task is akin to searching a small town - but one tilted on its side, largely in darkness and partly submerged in freezing water. Scores of divers were taking part. Rescue workers including specialist diving teams were working their way through more than 2,000 cabins on the ship, a floating resort that boasted a huge spa, seven restaurants, bars, cinemas and discotheques.  After a night-time operation on Friday and Saturday involving helicopters, ships and lifeboats, many passengers had left the area with many taken to Rome airport for flights home. This is a second accident involving the ship after that on November 22, 2008 when it hit a port wall and was damaged while docking.