Italy Shipwreck - Captain's Mistake Cost Lives, say Survivors
Pic: Yahya Hallare
Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (RD)
Karwar, Jan 22: It is not everyday that one gets a second chance at life. Or rather, a second life. Three of the lucky 200 Indian survivors of the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia which capsized off the Tuscan shore a few days back, have returned home, and live to tell their story on what happened aboard the ill-fated ship.
Tony Fernandes, Wilson Fernandes and Makeria Xavier, residents of Chendia village in Karwar were aboard the Italian cruise when the tragedy took place. They even helped in the rescue operations and saved several lives.
Tony, Xavier and Wilson
They agree on one point - that it was the captain of the cruise ship, Francesco Schettino, who was to blame for the tragedy, as has been reported by media worldwide. It was the delay in giving orders to evacuate the ship that led to 12 lives being lost and many more missing, and moreover, instead of directing the rescue operations, the captain himself allegedly jumped into a life boat, for which he is under enquiry.
Tony Fernandes narrates:
"It was on 9 pm on January 13, the Italian luxury cruise liner Costa Concordia had set sail in the Mediterranean sea for a few nautical miles, when the crew realized it was sailing off-course, but dared not question captain Francisco Schettino.
"We heard a thud at around 9.30 pm and the cruise liner leaned a little and changed its course, and by then the emergency sirens also blared. We rushed to see what the matter was, and at 10.15 pm, the captain announced, ‘No problem, everything is in control. It is a technical problem and there's no need to fear.’ Obviously, we heaved sigh of relief.
"However, we could sense the ship moving in a haphazard manner, and at 11.45 pm the captain issued orders to evacuate the ship. By then the giant vessel had leaned further and we could see a few storeys already flooded. The electricity supply snapped and darkness enveloped the ship. We rushed to the passengers cabin.
"There were thirteen life boats on either side of the ship when it began its voyage. But as the ship was beginning to lean and submerge, 13 life boats on one side could not be accessed. We then rushed the passengers into life boats on the other side," says Tony.
"If the captain of the ship had sent SOS at 9.30 pm, all passengers and crew could have been saved on time. The captain delayed his orders by about two hours, which proved hazardous and complicated the rescue operation. The captain’s error in going off-course and navigating the cruise liner too close to the Giglio Island resulted in the tragedy," says Tony.
When the cruise liner hit the rocks, about 2,000 passengers were dining, and as many were watching movies. A few of them were sleeping and others were on the deck. "The passengers had the shock of their lives when they heard the emergency orders. The ship plunged into darkness, and we could hear cries for help," says Makeria Xavier.
Happy reunion
Nevertheless, for Tony, Wilson and Xavier, the tragedy ended in a happy reunion with their families. The parents of the three seamen were overjoyed when they reached home safely after being rescued from the shipwreck.
"We were anxious and worried when we heard of the tragedy, but relieved and happy when Wilson called us to say he was safe two days later," says Wilson's mother Vixina Fernandes. The same was the case with Tony, whose grandmother could not bear her anxiety till she saw him herself.