Ship To Wreck: Grim, Beautiful Photos Of The Costa Concordia And What Really Happened
The Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia was carrying over 4,000 people on January 13, 2012, when disaster hit. The vessel struck rocks in the Mediterranean and was left with a 230-foot gash in its hull. The evacuation took over six hours, as nearly everyone on board was safely rescued. Three years later, the ship's captain was sentenced to 16 years and one month in prison. Read on to take a look inside the abandoned ship, and then learn the story about what really happened that fateful night!
A Trip Inside A Ghost Ship
In 2014, Delve Site took a trip inside the abandoned Costa Concordia cruise ship. Using GoPro cameras, the YouTube user was able to capture six hours of incredible interior footage. While the pictures aren't always the best quality, they do provide a stunning insight into what the ship looks like now.
In 2017, Delve Site uploaded a condensed version of the video to YouTube. This first image captures him entering the ship and beginning his ghastly journey.
Taking In The Views
When the Costa Concordia was afloat with passengers, the walkway around the exterior was likely packed. Here it's empty, rotting away and rusting. You can see the sunlight breaking through and can imagine how majestic it once seemed.
This picture reminds how quickly things can change. In the blink of an eye, life on the Costa Concordia went from lavish to languish, leaving chaos in its wake. The scary event 4,000 plus people experienced in 2012 is one that history will never forget.
Was This A Dining Area?
In this photo, Delve Site appears to have captured what looks to be the former dining area of the Costa Concordia. The large open space and circular tables hint that it was either that or a gaming area where passengers gathered to gamble.
It's incredible to think how devastated this area became in just two years time. In 2012, the Costa Concordia crashed into a rocky outcrop near the shore of Genoa, and two years later this was the relic left behind.
The Empty Bar
A once crowded bar for the Costa Concordia stood empty in 2014, a ghost of what it once was. Formerly a lively scene with passengers talking, maybe even meeting each other for the first time, is now a broken canvas.
Images like this remind how precious our moments together can be. Sitting at a bar can be a great way to make connections that last a lifetime. Even today, some of the connections made from this once lively area are surely must still be in touch with each other.
Passengers' Quarters
As Delve Site continued his exploration of the Costa Concordia he came across this room. While the video provides no audio track with him explaining where he might be, it looks to us like it was a passenger's room.
You can see a dilapidated vanity against the wall where someone could have gotten ready for an evening. Next to the vanity, you can also see what's left standing from a dresser. Most of the ship's beds, at this point, had been removed by salvage crews.
A Tiny Space
In this photo, you can see at least one bed was left behind. By our best guess, this looks to be one of the smaller rooms for passengers. While it could also be a tiny storage space, the painting on the wall and the suitcase on top of the mattress indicate otherwise.
On a cruise like this, with the amount of time passengers spend outside of their quarters, size is not the most important feature.
Another View
Here's one last view of a possible passenger's quarters. It can be hard to identify everything in the room, showing just how much damage was caused by the wreck.
When the Costa Concordia hit rocks, it began to list, upending everything about that wasn't nailed down. Later, when salvage crews worked to upright the ship so it could be towed, more debris was thrown around. We wonder what this now destroyed room once looked like.
The Gym Remains Intact
Of all the area you wouldn't expect to still be standing in nearly pristine condition is the gym. Of course, every piece of equipment would have to secured to the floor for passenger safety, but this room looks barely touched.
If you told us this was an abandoned gym we wouldn't believe it. The treadmills look like they could still be used today and the paint on the walls is still in incredible condition.
Taking In The Sun
One of the most relaxing parts of any cruise is heading up to the tanning deck to take in the sun while you're on vacation. Here you have the remains of the Costa Concordia's tanning deck.
Amazingly, many of the structures from this deck have stayed in place, indicating it was on the side of the ship that was not exposed to water as it listed. Unlike the gym, you can also see this room has taken plenty of damage.
Navigation Room?
As we've said before, Delve Site didn't offer commentary during his tour about where he was, so a lot of what we're guessing is from our best judgment. Could this have been the navigation deck of the Costa Concordia?
The two seats front and center in the room appear to give a great view out the window for the captain. Just to the left of the seat is what appears to be the remains of a control panel.
Comparisons To The Titanic
When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was the largest passenger ship ever built. It carried a little over 2,000 passengers and crew and took nearly three hours to sink in deep water.
One hundred years later, it's impossible not to compare the Costa Concordia to the Titanic. The new ship had twice the passenger capacity of the Titanic and better technology but found itself stranded in shallow water, with an estimated sinking time of two hours.
Shallow Waters
If the Costa Concordia had been in deep water when it sank, it would have been enveloped by the ocean in two hours. Instead, it crashed into the rocks in shallow water, leaving the large ship teetering on its side.
Being shipwrecked this way made it possible for evacuation efforts to save all but 32 people aboard. The harrowing mission took over six hours, leading into an investigation about what should have happened, and putting the actions of Captain Francesco Schettino in the spotlight.
The Course Was Set, But Not Followed
When the Costa Concordia left dock in Italy, it set sail on what was supposed to be a seven-day long Mediterranean cruise. Prior to taking off, a course was set that should have seen the ship sail safely for the entire voyage.
Captain Schettino later decided to veer off course to perform a "sail by salute," a maneuver where ships sail close to the shore for the mainlanders and others to witness.
Schettino May Have Been Trying To Impress His Mistress
After the story of the Costa Concordia was made public, rumors began to swirl about why the ship's captain had re-plotted the cruise dangerously off-course. The most prevalent rumor was that he wanted to impress his mistress, who was on-board with him.
When the rumors died down, the truth came out. "Sail by salutes," while dangerous, were common and unofficially sanctioned by the cruise line industry. The daring move was seen as a way to impress potential passengers onshore to increase business opportunities.
This Wasn't Schettino's First "Sail By Salute"
Under the command of Captain Schettino, it was reported the Costa Concordia had previously performed one other "sail by salute." While performing this had become common among cruises, they were still dangerous, as proved by Schettino's second attempt.
As the ship approached Giglio Island for the salute there was a navigation error that led it too close to shore and into a rocky outcrop. The ship was struck and damaged at 9:42 p.m. with the slash coming beneath the waterline, allowing the ocean water to flow freely inside.
"My Heart Will Go On"
At the time the Costa Concordia hit the rocks, one of the ship's restaurants was playing "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic. The song was recorded by Celine Dion and won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 1998 Academy Awards.
While that fateful song was being played on the Costa Concordia, the ship's engine was breached and flooded with seawater. The ship was designed to stay afloat as long as only two watertight compartments were flooded, not three.
Passengers Weren't Prepared In Time
Within the first 24 hours of boarding a cruise ship, passengers are supposed to go through a muster drill. This would show them what to do and where to go in case of an emergency.
Two hours prior to the accident, passengers from Rome had boarded the ship and had not yet undergone the drill. This led to chaos while damage was assessed. The captain's crew was now tasked with keeping the passengers calm.
Captain Schettino Didn't Notify The Coast Guard That Anything Was Wrong
As it became clear to passengers that something was wrong, many took it upon themselves to take action. They not only started putting on life vests, but they also notified the Coast Guard.
At 10:14 p.m., the Coast Guard called the ship to see what was going on and was told there was a power failure, but no other issues. Then, at 10:55 p.m, more than one hour after the ship struck rocks, the captain ordered an evacuation.
The Captain Always Goes Down With The Ship
As we wrote earlier, because the Costa Concordia disaster and the Titanic tragedy happened almost exactly 100 years apart, it's impossible not to compare the two. In 1912, the Titanic was captained by Edward John Smith.
After the Titanic sinking was investigated, it was found that Edward Smith went down with the ship and made no efforts to save himself. In regards to Captain Francesco Schettino, the same thing cannot be said.
Schettino Claims He "Tripped And Fell" Into A Lifeboat
Unlike John Edward Smith, Francesco Schettino was found safe and sound on a lifeboat after the Costa Concordia was evacuated. At the time, the beleaguered captain claimed he tripped and fell into the lifeboat, accidentally saving his own life.
After making this highly unlikely claim, video footage surfaced of Schettino getting onto a lifeboat and abandoning his ship under his own power. When a Coast Guard official caught Schettino, he ordered him to go back to the ship, but did the captain listen?
Schettino Refused To Go Back To The Ship
It was Gregorio De Falco who found Schettino on a lifeboat moving away from the Costa Concordia that night. He commanded the captain to return to his ship and finish leading the evacuation effort, but Schettino refused.
The captain told De Falco it was too dark to return, there were other boats blocking the way, and the ship was listing. As far as records state, Schettino and his crew made no efforts to return, despite the Coast Guard's orders.
One Unofficial Crewman Stayed Aboard
While it seemed like everyone who should have been aboard the Costa Concordia to lead evacuation efforts had abandoned ship, one unofficial crewmember stayed aboard. Captain Roberto Bosio, who was in charge of a sister ship, was on the Costa Concordia in an unofficial capacity.
When the evacuation efforts began, he stayed aboard to help lead the effort. In a statement made after the evacuation was complete, Bosio said that he had made the evacuation order and decried Schettino's actions.
Not Every Lifeboat Was Used
According to strict safety regulations, all cruise ships must have enough life boats to accommodate 125 percent of passengers and crew on board. Despite following these regulations, the Costa Concordia failed to use all the lifeboats it needed.
When the ship began to list on its starboard side, a certain number of boats became unavailable for use. Had Captain Schettino ordered the evacuation on time, this likely would not have been the case.
Several Passengers Had To Swim To Shore
Because there was a lack of space on lifeboats, passengers remaining on the listing ship were given two options -- swim to shore or wait for a rescue helicopter from the Coast Guard.
In the chaos surrounding the moment, not every passenger was able to find a life vest to put on. One French couple could only find one jacket. The husband, a strong swimmer, told his wife to wear it. She made it safely to shore while he was lost to the sea.
Schettino Faced Criminal Charges
For his reported failures to act, Captain Schettino, as well as several members of his crew, went on to face criminal charges. In court, his defense attorneys claimed that his ability to steer the ship into shallow water had saved countless lives.
The prosecution argued that it was the wind and tides that forced the ship with no power into shallow water. Had the ship been even a few meters further out to sea, it could have easily been swept into deeper waters.
The Final Verdict
Based on his actions, the court determined that Captain Francesco Schettino was guilty of abandoning his ship, causing a maritime accident, and manslaughter. He was sentenced to 16 years and one month in prison.
Schettino later claimed he was being used as a scapegoat for the systemic failures of Costa Cruises. The cruise line avoided any charges and only paid a one million dollar fine. Schettino's case went through the appeals process for two years, and in 2017, he was finally put behind bars.
The Salvage Mission Was One Of The Largest Ever
Salvaging the Costa Concordia was a massive mission. A total of 114,000 tons made it one of the largest, and most dangerous, salvage missions in history. If any part of the still-listing ship was shifted, it could have floated into deeper water.
To successfully perform the salvage, huge metal platforms were constructed around the ship to upright it. Water was then pumped out of the vessel so it could be towed to a new resting destination. The total cost of the salvage was estimated at $1 billion.
Items From The Ship Washed Ashore
Uprighting the Costa Concordia used a process known as parbuckling. During that process, items left on the ship fell out and eventually washed to shore. Here is a collection of personal care products that were found on a nearby beach.
A lifeguard found the items on September 19, 2013, more than a year after the Costa Concordia crashed into the rocks near Giglio Island. Other items small items recovered on the shore included headphones and ropes.
The Towed Wreckage Became A Local Interest
This photo shows a local Italian man taking a photo of the Costa Concordia as it was towed to its final resting spot near Genoa. The towed wreckage proved highly interesting to those on the Italian coast.
Once the wreckage arrived, the process of dismantling it to sell what was salvageable could begin. Photos like these become incredible time capsules, for future generations who were not directly impacted by the events to see.
All Hands On Deck
Here's another angle of the Costa Concordia being towed to Genoa. You can see the lead tow is being helped by at least three other boats to make sure nothing bad can happen.
Overall, the salvage process took two and a half years. Crews worked tirelessly to recover passenger items from the boat, upright it, drain it of ocean water, and then drain it of fuel. This picture was taken on July 27, 2014.
A Close-Up Of The Damage
The day after the Costa Concordia crashed, this pictured of the ship's damaged side was taken. There's a piece of a rock that appeared lodged in the hull, and you can clearly see inside a lower portion of the ship.
Had the original plot of the Costa Concordia not been changed, this moment in history could have been avoided. Instead, it serves a reminder of the importance of following proper safety protocol.
Assessing The Damage
The next day, with the evacuation complete and the sun up, the Coast Guard was able to get a better look at the damaged Costa Concordia. Here they are getting a close-up of the ship-wreck. This is a great shot to show how much the ship had listed on its side overnight.
Of course, this was only the start of what would become the two and half year salvage mission to move the Costa Concordia to Genoa and scrap it for parts.
The View From Shore
During the voyage, there were likely not many times this recreation area was completely empty. This picture was taken from the shore two days after the crash, showing the abandoned recreation area laying on its side.
During this time, survivors were still being found on the ship, with at least three discovered in the first two days of the rescue mission. Over the course of the next several days, more would be found.
The Wreckage Emerges
Taken on January 17, 2012, this underwater image captures sunken wreckage from the Costa Concordia. This part of the hull was ripped off when the ship got too close to shore and brushed up against rocks.
The 230-foot long gash allowed too much water to flow into the Costa Concordia, causing it to shipwreck just offshore of Giglio Island. Stories from survivors started coming in when this piece of the ship was found. Those interviewed spoke about the chaos onboard the ship on the night of January 12.
Large Debris Washed Ashore
A week after the Costa Concordia shipwrecked, this piece of debris washed ashore. It looks like a chair, possibly from a church onboard the ship. It is easily identifiable by the Costa Concordia branding on the backrest.
This picture was taken on the same day the search for survivors was suspended. The ship shifted on the rocks, creating dangerous conditions for rescue workers. In February, Italian authorities created a secure border around the ship so the salvage mission could begin.
