Cruise ship runs aground off italan coast

[Bodach na mara]

What puzzled me was that the hole appears to be in the turn of the bilge well aft. That suggests to me that the ship was turning to starboard when it hit. The next puzzle is that the hole appears to reach about 15 - 18 feet below the waterline and there seems to be only about another 4 feet of ship below that. I thought these things drew 24 to 30 feet.

The type of rock may give a clue as to the origins of the obstruction. If volcanic, it may indicate a pinacle that nobody has been unlucky enough to hit before, i.e. it is uncharted.

 

[BartW]

there is a isolated rock reaching till 4m below sea level, at 500 m from the island, (NE side)
its about 1Nm north from the point where the cruise ship is now (porto Giglio)

secca della Crocce is a well known dive spot, and it is on the nautical charts.
Around the rock it is steep down 75m + deep.

was there last year end June
If weather prediction remains as it is, will sail along the place next week, its almost on our route from SOF to Rome.

 

[Nick_H]

The photo below was taken this summer in the exact spot where the ferry now lies. The small flattish rock you can see behing SWMBO is the one next to the ferry in all the TV footage.

The area is a major boating destination, one of the most popular in the med, so the ferry is highly unlikely to have found an uncharted reef. Given this, and the steeply sloping sea bed in the area, it seems most likely to be a steering failure and the ferry has been powerless to avoid hitting the coast of the island itself, and has then tried to limp to the only port on the island to make rescue easier.

Its just a guess though

 

[[2068]]

No mention of power surges, engine room explosions, or steering failure:

"I want to express our deep sorrow for this terrible tragedy that devastates us “ - said Gianni Onorato President Costa Crociere- “ I am here only now because, as you will understand, I have been from the down until now on the Isola del Giglio to be close to the rescue operations.
First at all, I would like to thank all the authorities, law enforcement and volunteers who made all efforts to help and assist our Guests involved in this terrible event."

"We are not at this time able to provide an answer to all the questions, because the competent authority are trying with our cooperative efforts to understand the reasons for this incident.

On the basis of the first evidences, still preliminary the ship Costa Concordia under the command of the Master Francesco Schettino was regularly sailing from Civitavecchia to Savona, when suddenly the ship stroked a rock.
The Master who was on the bridge at that time, understood the severity of the situation immediately performed a maneuver aimed to secure Guests and crew, and started the security procedures in order to prepare for an eventual ship evacuation.

Unfortunately, this operation was complicated as result of a sudden tilt of the ship that has made difficult the disembarkation.
Thanks to the commitment of all forces coordinated by the Coast Guard, from that moment on, rescue operations have been further strengthened.
From the first time the company mobilized all its resources ashore to put in to assist our guests and crew members and prevent possible environmental impacts."

 

[MapisM]

secca della Crocce is a well known dive spot, and it is on the nautical charts.

Funny you mention it, I was there for a diving week back in 1997, and one of the dives was exactly at "Le Scole", the two small islets where the ship supposedly went through.
I can remember seeing some small boats pass through the islets from the bottom (in spite of the diving boat anchored nearby ). Visibility was fantastic, and it was possible to see both islets, from a depth of 15m or so.
The idea alone of a cruise ship going through than passage is a nightmare in itself...

 

[mjf]

Looking at the charts I have as NickH says its deep water everywhere and steep shoreline.

You are either aground or in 10m+ a couple of meters to seaward.

What is odd is she had a 20 degree Stbd list and all but three of the life boats and rafts had been launched on one bbc pix. All lights on and what looks like masthead top light on the funnel and two red vertical lights on the mast - no coloured side lights shown.

there is extensive damage with the rock on the port side yet shes capsized to Stbd.

No bunker leakage and no oil booms deployed either yet??


This is an interesting incident - lives have been lost which is awful , loads still missing too but to get 4000 odd peeps off is some achievement I think.

 

[stillwaters]

A dreadful thing for all concerned,a shame also for the ship,I think.
However,as I notice there may be interest in exactly where the ship was ie.what it hit,maybe the following website might be of interest www.marinetraffic.com (if you haven't already come across it). Enter Coata Concordia in the search box on the top right of the page and from there you can follow its track until the last recorded entry.
The coordinated fixes show the ship approaching the island on headings of 276 degrees speed 15.4kn at 20.33,285 degrees speed 15.3kn at 20.37 and then 351 degrees speed 2.9kn at 2053 and then passing her final resting place only 400 metres off just after at a reducing speed down to 1.1kn by 21.02 on a heading of 13 degrees. All info inc, positions is shown until 21.02 where she was just off the harbour.
I had wondered why when on a heading that should have been more or less NNW she ended up pointing the opposite direction. Just a thought,from this info she definitely put about but was that either due to or maybe the result of a malfunction and,subsequently after this she grounded or,was she turned after collision which,bearing in mind the high CG those things must have,so when turning too quickly ahe would maybe heel out similar to a top-heavy warship - possibly a very bad move with the possible added pendulum effect of the incoming water.

 

[SteveE]

Last Position Received
Area: Ligurean Sea
Latitude / Longitude: 42.3717° / 10.92602° (Map)
Currently in Port:
Last Known Port: PALERMO
Info Received: 1d 19h 56min ago
Not Currently in Range

Would not really class it as being in Port?

 

[Hurricane]

A dreadful thing for all concerned,a shame also for the ship,I think.
However,as I notice there may be interest in exactly where the ship was ie.what it hit,maybe the following website might be of interest www.marinetraffic.com (if you haven't already come across it). Enter Coata Concordia in the search box on the top right of the page and from there you can follow its track until the last recorded entry.
The coordinated fixes show the ship approaching the island on headings of 276 degrees speed 15.4kn at 20.33,285 degrees speed 15.3kn at 20.37 and then 351 degrees speed 2.9kn at 2053 and then passing her final resting place only 400 metres off just after at a reducing speed down to 1.1kn by 21.02 on a heading of 13 degrees. All info inc, positions is shown until 21.02 where she was just off the harbour.
I had wondered why when on a heading that should have been more or less NNW she ended up pointing the opposite direction. Just a thought,from this info she definitely put about but was that either due to or maybe the result of a malfunction and,subsequently after this she grounded or,was she turned after collision which,bearing in mind the high CG those things must have,so when turning too quickly ahe would maybe heel out similar to a top-heavy warship - possibly a very bad move with the possible added pendulum effect of the incoming water.

Cant seem to find the track on Marinetraffic that you mention.

Here's a chart of the island - the only rocks that I can see are those on the NE corner. 4.5m but could have been read as 45m,
The red flag is the position given by SteveE

 

[Nick_H]

The coordinated fixes show the ship approaching the island on headings of 276 degrees speed 15.4kn at 20.33,285 degrees speed 15.3kn at 20.37 and then 351 degrees speed 2.9kn at 2053 and then passing her final resting place only 400 metres off just after at a reducing speed down to 1.1kn by 21.02 on a heading of 13 degrees. All info inc, positions is shown until 21.02 where she was just off the harbour.
I had wondered why when on a heading that should have been more or less NNW she ended up pointing the opposite direction. Just a thought,from this info she definitely put about but was that either due to or maybe the result of a malfunction and,subsequently after this she grounded or,was she turned after collision which,bearing in mind the high CG those things must have,so when turning too quickly ahe would maybe heel out similar to a top-heavy warship - possibly a very bad move with the possible added pendulum effect of the incoming water.

That's interesting, I couldn't understand why the tear in the hull is facing away from the land as she currently lies, but that would explain it. It adds weight to the theory that the captain decided to head for the nearest port after the grounding, which would involve turning the boat.

 

[VicS]

Take a look at the thread on the Scuttlebutt forum, now over 230 posts long.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300433


Several charts posted on there suggest that the Costa Concordia (a large cruise liner btw not a ferry!) passed between the rocks at le Scole south of the harbour.

Incredible if it did! Look at that area in Google earth and look at what 290m long by 35 m beam looks like in comparison with the gap between the rocks.

 

[Searush]

Take a look at the thread on the Scuttlebutt forum, now over 230 posts long.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=300433


Several charts posted on there suggest that the Costa Concordia (a large cruise liner btw not a ferry!) passed between the rocks at le Scole south of the harbour.

Incredible if it did! Look at that area in Google earth and look at what 290m long by 35 m beam looks like in comparison with the gap between the rocks.

FWIW, I think that has been discreditted in later posts, someone took a proper look at the charts & the gap between the rocks is too small for the ship to get thro. In my view, the current best theory seems to be that it does a regular "fly-by" of the island for the entertainment of passengers & islanders, but was closer to the island than they thought & hit a rock to the N of the harbour. They then did a U-turn to get back towards the harbour to make it eaier to evacuate the passengers but ran out of water. But we shall see in due course I expect.

 

[oceanfroggie]

The AIS track will reveal where she went.

The media and Internet speculation is twitteringly full of fog and unqualified speculation. Agree the gap between the islet and island at only 70m seems too narrow for her to have passed though there, but the factual evidence whenever it emerges will clarify.

 

[Windybaby]

Have heard from a 'source' that this was caused by an auto helm problem. There was a failure in the system, and very unfortunately when the captain tried to engage manual and over ride, the ship would not respond. They could not even cut the engines until relatively close to the rocks, they were powerless to do anything. You know when you hear that someone has lost all power and is drifting on your channel 16 obs, you don't expect it to be a cruise liner!!!! Blimey, how scarey for all involved. Thoughts go out.......



Sometimes, no amount of fenders can save you..........

 

[stillwaters]

Cant seem to find the track on Marinetraffic that you mention.

Here's a chart of the island - the only rocks that I can see are those on the NE corner. 4.5m but could have been read as 45m,
The red flag is the position given by SteveE

Sorry for the delay but have just returned from an evening with Katherine Jenkins so please excuse the shaky typing.
Some rather more precise instructions then:-
1. www.marinetraffic.com
2. type costa concordia into search box at top right corner.
3. left click on the name box that should appear below it.
4. The ship's page should appear - left click on itineraries history (in red on lower left of page).A chart with a dark blue ship icon should appear.
5. Scroll in with mouse wheel and by left clicking on arrowheads a box will open showing date,time,speed and heading. Additionally at bottom of chart the grid pos's will be visible.

If you follow this lot you will notice that the ship was approaching the red flag mark on your above chart,possibly the rock mentioned earlier by BartW,I think. So,maybe,the ship turned about,surely not a good idea in the circumstances?

PS. If you still can't use the b****y website it's not my fault! Cheers.

 

[stillwaters]

Please add to previous:-

4.after clicking on itineraries history,before the map appears you will see a list of position entries. Ignore the top one but left click on the second entry 'show on map' in right column - timed at 21.02. Then the map appears. As well as map format you can click and view it in satellite mode as well. Obviously you get rid of the large description box by clicking on customary top-right x.

It's easier to do than explain.

 

[MapisM]

It's easier to do than explain.

LOL, you bet.
You could as well have suggested to click here, as I did in this post in the Lounge thread...

 

[stillwaters]

LOL, you bet.
You could as well have suggested to click here, as I did in this post in the Lounge thread...

Still,it's the thought that counts - shame you don't!

 

[Hurricane]

Please add to previous:-

4.after clicking on itineraries history,before the map appears you will see a list of position entries. Ignore the top one but left click on the second entry 'show on map' in right column - timed at 21.02. Then the map appears. As well as map format you can click and view it in satellite mode as well. Obviously you get rid of the large description box by clicking on customary top-right x.

It's easier to do than explain.

Ahh - thanks

 

[Neil_Y]

A collection of data/charts and speculation here.
http://blog.geogarage.com/2012/01/italy-cruise-ship-costa-concordia.html