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Costa CEO Says Concordia Captain Deviated from Approved Route

The master of the Costa Concordia changed course to sail close to the Italian island of Giglio, apparently a practice of some ship captains to greet the residents. “He wanted to show the ship to this island so he decided to change the course of the ship to go closer to the island and pass in front of the little city,” Costa Chairman and CEO Pier Luigi Foschi said in a press conference Jan. 16. “The captain did not follow the authorized route used by Costa ships very frequently.”

The 114,000-ton ship was about 500 feet from the island when it hit rocks that ripped a 160-foot gash in the hull. The ship took on water and began listing, forcing the evacuation of about 4,200 passengers and crew. The captain, Francesco Schettino, who was on the bridge at the time of the incident, is being detained by Italian authorities on suspicion of manslaughter and abandoning ship.

On the morning of Jan. 16, about 16 people remained unaccounted for, including a couple from Minnesota. The death toll rose to six with the discovery of a body of an adult male passenger on the ship, according to local news reports. Rescue operations, which require divers to carefully search the ship, were suspended when the seas became rough and the vessel started to move.

Foschi answered questions from reporters in a conference call for almost 90 minutes, sometimes demurring on specifics since the Italian authorities took the black box that tracks the ship’s movements for their own investigation. Costa also does not have access to the ship.

He said lifeboat drills are required to be held within 24 hours of boarding, which means the 696 passengers that boarded in Civitavecchia did not undergo the drill before the incident, which occurred 3.5 hours after departure. Costa Concordia and other ships in the fleet commonly board passengers in several ports along the way.

Foschi said a video of evacuation procedures shows in stateroom TVs and there are large signs that direct passengers to muster stations. He said the 4,200 passengers and crew members were evacuated within two hours, although the process was hindered when the ship began to list, making it difficult to lower lifeboats.

When asked if any other officers tried to stop the captain from changing course, Foschi said “the captain is the authority by law” and can make decisions based on weather, sea conditions or other factors. “In this particular case, the captain decided to change the route and went into water he did not know,” he said. In response to a question, he said, “from what I know, the captain does not drink alcohol. The captain and officers are subject to regular tests for alcohol and drugs.”

Foschi also said the company is concerned about environmental impact, since the ship is carrying about 2,300 tons of fuel. “So far there is no impact but we are still very, very concerned,” he said. “We will ensure there will be no environmental impact.” A Danish company has been hired to remove the fuel.

Meanwhile, parent company Carnival Corp. & plc said a damage assessment of the vessel is currently being undertaken to determine how long it will be out of service. It is expected to be out of service for the remainder of our current fiscal year, if not longer. For the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, the impact to 2012 earnings for loss of use is expected to be approximately $85 million to $95 million or 11-12 cents per share. The company has insurance coverage for damage to the vessel with a deductible of approximately $30 million as well as insurance for third-party personal injury liability subject to an additional deductible of approximately $10 million for this incident. The company self-insures for loss of use of the vessel.

“At this time, our priority is the safety of our passengers and crew,” said Carnival Chairman and CEO Micky Arison. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by the grounding of the Costa Concordia and especially to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives. They will remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

Costa Concordia, said to be carrying more than 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew, ran aground and sank on the night of Friday, Jan. 13 off the coast of Italy on the first day of a seven-day cruise out of Rome’s port of Civitavecchia. Most of the passengers were evacuated, according to the line, but at least three people were killed with some reports saying as many as six people have died. Dozens more were injured and up to 50 passengers were reportedly still missing.

Costa Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corp. & plc, confirmed the evacuation of roughly 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crewmembers from ship. “The evacuation started promptly, but the ship began to list severely, making it more complicated to complete the evacuation,” Costa said. “At this time, the cause of the incident cannot be confirmed. Costa Cruises is working with the highest commitment to provide all needed assistance to guests, crew members and the local Italian authorities.”

Costa Concordia was sailing a Mediterranean cruise from Civitavecchia (Rome) with scheduled calls at Savona, Italy; Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; Palma de Mallorca; Cagliari and Palermo, Italy. About 1,000 passengers of Italian nationality were on board, as well as more than 500 Germans, 250 North Americans, roughly 160 French and about 1,000 crewmembers.

Costa Concordia reportedly hit a sandbar near the Italian island of Giglio as passengers were having dinner. A video on the website of Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper shows a major gash in the lower hull of the ship that reported measures more than 150 feet. Other photos from Britain’s Daily Mail website show the ship lying on its side on the sandbar as rescuers searched cabins to find other survivors. Rescue operations were continuing on Saturday. Some passengers reportedly jumped from the ship as it began to list.

The 114,500-ton Costa Concordia is the largest ship ever to sink. Questions will no doubt be raised about safety procedures and navigational systems as the investigation into the accident begins. One press account said the ship did not schedule a safety drill before departure but was set to conduct one on Saturday, though Costa has commented on that report.

For its part, Costa Cruises seemed overwhelmed by the disaster. The company’s website collapsed under the volume of searches and its Twitter feed had no current news to report. A Costa spokesman said family members and travel agents with passengers on Costa Concordia could call Costa's call center at 800-462-6782 for more information.

“It is a tragedy that deeply affects our company,” Costa said in a statement. “Our first thoughts go to the victims and we express our condolences and concern to their families and friends. At this time all our efforts are focused on completing the last emergency operations and providing assistance to the guests and crew who were on board to facilitate their return home as soon as possible. Emergency procedures started promptly to evacuate the ship. The severe list of the ship made the evacuation extremely difficult.

Costa added: “We express our profound gratitude to the Coast Guard and all the organizations coordinated by the Coast Guard in the rescue mission, including the authorities and citizens of the island Isola del Giglio, who were involved in the rescue and assistance to guests and crew members.” The line said it would cooperate fully with the relevant authorities to determine the causes of the accident.

But press accounts of the disaster seemed to contradict Costa’s statement. Some passengers said it took nearly an hour for some people to get into lifeboats, that emergency instructions in English were hard to hear and that crewmembers failed to give instructions on how to evacuate the ship. Other reports said passengers panicked as they tried to find lifeboats in the dark on a heavily listing ship.

To celebrate the launch of year-round cruising on the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation and 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest from New Orleans, a VIP ceremony was held Monday at the Port of New Orleans. During the reception, plaques were exchanged by Carnival Elation Captain Salvatore Messina and local officials.

Following the exchange, Carnival made a $25,000 donation to Reconcile New Orleans, which operate Café Reconcile as part of a job-training program that prepares adolescents for hospitality industry careers through training and work experience. During their visit on the ship, participants of the program also received a private tour of the ship and its galley. Carnival Elation offers four- and five-day cruises to Mexico, while the Carnival Conquest offers three different week-long Caribbean itineraries from New Orleans. For more information, visit www.GoCCL.com.

After the success of the first two Malt Shop Memories Cruises, another one will be held next year on Holland America Line’s Eurodam. The seven-day cruise will depart Oct. 27 from Fort Lauderdale and visit Turks & Caicos, San Juan, St. Thomas and the private island of Half Moon Cay.

Inspired by Time Life’s Malt Shop Memories CD series, the voyage will feature Dion, Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love, The Original Drifters, The Duprees, Sonny Turner (former lead singer of the Platters), Carl Gardner’s Coasters, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, The Chiffons, The Tymes, The Marvelettes, Al “Lil Fats” Jackson, John Kuse and the Excellents, The Dedications, The Encounters, The Acchords, Gino Monopoli/Dwight Icenhower and, returning as the cruise host, DJ Jerry “The Geator with the Heater” Blavat.

In addition to concerts, the cruise will offer events, parties,’50s- and ’60s-themed activities, meet-and-greets and an Elvis tribute artist contest with a cash prize of $5,000.

The Malt Shop Memories Cruise was developed in association with Entertainment Cruise Productions. Fares start at $1,550 per person. For more information, call 877-700-6258 or visit www.MaltShopCruise.com

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved a $13.5 million construction contract to ready a prominent, downtown-adjacent section of the San Pedro waterfront for a new public open space and harbor area. The approved water cut will create the necessary land and harbor infrastructure to accommodate development of a new town square and promenade on the water. The location, just north of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, is designed as a centerpiece of the ongoing revitalization of the waterfront.

“The Downtown Harbor development will be a crown jewel of the emerging LA Waterfront,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz. “This is the first major infrastructure project as a result of the Harbor Commission approval that we received in 2009 and the focus is on downtown first.”

The Downtown Harbor project will cut into approximately 1.2 acres of waterfront land along Harbor Boulevard between Fire Station 112 to the north and the L.A. Maritime Museum to the south, creating a new harbor inlet for vessels to dock and approximately 700 linear feet of promenade. Surrounding the inlet will be a town square, featuring new landscaping, lighting and promenades.

Demolition and construction will be undertaken by contractor Reyes Construction of Pomona, Calif. The contract includes demolition of an existing downtown harbor parking lot, soil excavation and dredging, removal or relocation of existing utilities on the site, construction of a sheet pile wall system and extension of the Berth 85 tugboat wharf by 25 feet.

Since the Environmental Impact Report for the project was approved in 2009, public workshops have been held to gather feedback from the community. As a result, several design elements were changed, which included adding more open space, widening the promenades, and improving the physical and visual connectivity with downtown San Pedro. A public art display is also planned for the site.

A ground-breaking ceremony will take place in January. The construction project is expected to take approximately 16 months. Development of the town square and promenade will follow and is expected to take an additional 12 to 18 months. For more information, visit www.portoflosangeles.org.

Crystal Cruises will host TV personality Regis Philbin on the March 13 cruise from Hong Kong to Osaka. Crystal announced the news on Nov. 18, Philbin’s last day hosting his daytime show, “Live with Regis and Kelly.”

Philbin, who holds the Guinness World Record for “most hours on camera,” will deliver talks about his life and legendary career and have a Q&A with cruisers. His wife, Joy, will accompany him.

The “Kingdoms of Silk & Jade” Crystal Serenity sailing includes overnights in Hong Kong before visiting Xiamen, Shanghai (overnight), and Dalian, then heads inland to Beijing for a complimentary three-day inland adventure, followed by calls in Seoul/Incheon (overnight), Nagasaki and Osaka (overnight). For more information, call 800-446-6620.

Port Canaveral’s Cove Marketplace opened for its second season on Nov. 1 with 40-plus vendors, including a number of new merchants. The open-air market features a variety of offerings, including pottery, paintings, carvings, jewelry, souvenirs and apparel. New this season is a green market with fresh produce and plants. During the season, which runs from November until April, local performers and artists will showcase their talents. Located in the waterfront dining and entertainment retail district at Port Canaveral, the Cove Marketplace is open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and the first Saturday of the month. For more information, visit www.portcanaveral.com.

The current cruise of Holland America Line’s Oosterdam will arrive in San Diego a day late due to a medical evacuation of three guests near Hilo, Hawaii. The company said the ship was cruising to San Diego but had to turn around and sail back toward Hilo to rendezvous with U.S. Coast Guard helicopters for the evacuation.

As a result, Oosterdam will now arrive in San Diego on Nov. 6 instead of Nov. 5. Guests on the current sailing have been informed of the change. “We are working closely with them to alter travel plans as needed due to the late disembarkation,” the company said. The Oosterdam departed San Diego on Oct. 22 on a 14-day Hawaii sailing.

Oosterdam’s next sailing to Mexico is now scheduled to depart one day late on Nov. 6. The revised itinerary is day at sea on Monday, scenic cruising on Tuesday, Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday, Cabo San Lucas on Thursday, day at sea on Friday and return to San Diego on Nov. 12.

Guests and travel agents impacted by this change are being notified. Embarkation on Nov. 6 will begin at 11:30 a.m. For local guests not flying into San Diego for the Nov. 6 cruise, Holland America is offering $150 onboard credit for the first and second guests in each stateroom, as well as a $75 credit for the third and fourth stateroom guests.

For guests who are flying into San Diego and can change their flights to arrive on Sunday, Holland America will reimburse air change fees up to $100 per person and also will provide a $150-per-person onboard credit.

For guests who cannot change their flights and are arriving on Saturday, Holland America has arranged for a limited number of complimentary hotel rooms in San Diego as well as complimentary shuttle service to the pier on Sunday morning from the hotel. They will also receive a $75-per-person onboard credit to help offset shoreside meal expenses on Saturday and Sunday morning. Each guest on the Nov. 6 sailing also will receive a future cruise credit equal to 25 percent of the base cruise fare paid for the sailing.

In recognition of Veteran’s Day, Carnival Cruise Lines through November is allowing active and retired U.S. and Canadian military personnel to book up to three staterooms at discounted rates for themselves and their friends and family members. Reservations must be made Nov. 1 to 30 to qualify for the offer, which is good on three- to eight-day departures through April 30, 2013, including voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico and Alaska.

Rates start at $229 per person for three-day cruises, $259 per person for four-day cruises, $299 for five-day voyages, $399 for six-day departures, $449 for seven-day voyages, and $579 for eight-day sailings. The promotion is valid for individual bookings only. Military personnel must provide proof of service. Eligible military personnel must sail to take advantage of this offer. For more information, call 800-CARNIVAL or visit www.GoCCL.com.