Costa Concordia Bridge Crash Chaos

In yet another damning twist of the screw, dramatic video footage – possibly shot by Moldovan dancer Domnica Cemortan, who was with the cowardly Captain Schettino just prior to the collision – of the Costa Concordia command deck showing how relaxed his attitude was in the crucial hour after his vessel had hit the rocks..

Mediaset network TG5 news show broadcast the video, which shows  what really happened on that bridge shortly after the catastrophic crash, the indecisive captain waiting a full hour before giving the abandon ship order, even though, after the dreadful moment at  9:42 p.m. power had failed, senior crew members were aware of how devastating the damage was.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WPL7UggeIR4]

Despite being told that the sea was pouring in, Schettino maintained that should be no problem, that they should wait to reach shallow waters before taking action, and blithely ignoring the fact that the Concordia was tilting at a 12-degree angle, the deck over-crowded but no lead being taken .people, no decision is made.

Chaos was ensuing on the bridge of the stricken vessel, as the tilt increased to a 20-degree angle and panic was spreading, yet the captain seemed unable to give the order to evacuate until a full 50 minutes had elapsed since the collision, though this command was never relayed to the frightened passengers.

It was well over a half-hour AFTER that when the first lifeboats got lowered, but marine salvage experts are convinced that, had the evacuation happened immediately after the collision , and not an hour and a quarter later – probably no lives would have been lost.

Francesco Verusio, the magistrate leading the disaster investigation, which saw 17 people die and a further 15  go missing, now has this piece of damning evidence, which of vital investigative importance, as such footage was never mentioned by those featured in it when questioned.

The biggest question still remains the utter incompetence of the ship staff in regard to emergency procedures and the dreadful lack of passenger safety lessons. Had these things been properly addressed the tragedy might have been far less traumatic, and the only ones to blame have to be the cruise company. This must NEVER be allowed to happen again.