Concordia Disaster News

Retired New Yorkers Mahlon and Kim Russell have taken 15 cruises over the past 15 years, visiting destinations from Tahiti to St. Petersburg, primarily with Norwegian Cruise Line.After canceling a fall trip to Europe, in July the Russells booked a 10-day cruise around Australia and New Zealand—for January 2022.“We love cruising,” said Mahlon Russell. “But we don’t love it enough to be the first ones out of the gate.”The cruise industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic…

Shipping losses continued their long-term downward trend with 75 reported worldwide in 2014, making it the safest year in shipping for 10 years, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS)  third annual Safety and Shipping Review 2015, which analyzes reported shipping losses of over 100 gross tons. Losses declined by 32% compared with the previous year and were well below the 10-year loss average of 127. Since 2005 shipping losses have declined by 50%. More than a third of 2014’s total losses were in two maritime regions: South China…

The Costa Concordia disaster, when the cruise liner capsized off Italy more than two years ago, will likely end up costing the ship's owners just over $2 billion (1.5 billion euros), a company executive told a German newspaper. "So far, our costs are at 1 billion euros. But that does not include 100 million for the ship to be broken up for scrap and the cost of repairing damage to Giglio island," Michael Thamm, chief executive of Costa Crociere - a unit of Carnival Corp and operator of the ship - told weekly Bild am Sonntag.

Shipping losses decline, but emerging risks pose serious challenges to marine industry, according to Allianz study. 94 large ships lost worldwide in 2013, down 20% from last year. Total ship losses in continental U.S. hits all time low. Piracy focus shifts away from Somalia to new hotspots. “Mega ships”, Arctic shipping and alternative fuels create new industry risks. Shipping losses continued their downward trend with 94 losses reported worldwide in 2013, coming in below 100 for only the second time in 12 years…

Experts state in a leaked pre-trial report that the cruise giant failed to act in 'Costa Concordia' accident. Europe’s biggest cruise operator Costa Crociere may have failed to act promptly in the Costa Concordia disaster, according to a pre-trial report that still heaped much of the blame on the ship’s captain. The report, which was leaked in the Italian press on Thursday, was commissioned by the judge investigating the tragedy which claimed 32 lives when the giant ship with 4,229 people on board hit rocks on January 13, 2012, reports the 'South China Morning Post' via Agence France-Presse in Rome. Nine people are under investigation for the shipwreck off the island of Giglio, including captain Francesco Schettino and three Costa executives.

Despite legal obstacles that might force them to sue in Italy litigants seek damages from Miami-based Carnival Corp. in US courts. The lawsuits filed in both federal and state courts contend that Carnival is the corporate parent of the Costa brand, which operated the vessel, and is ultimately responsible for any safety violations, negligence or recklessness that may have led to the Jan. 13 accident that claimed 32 lives, reports 'The Washington Post'. Investigators say the ship rammed a reef while passing too close to Giglio Island, off Italy’s Tuscan coast. “Costa Cruise Lines is the alter ego of Carnival,” said Edward Ricci, whose lawsuit seeks to represent Giglio Island tourist-related businesses that claim the disaster deterred visitors…

The public apology of Captain Schettino while indicating that he is taking a sliver of  responsibility for the tragedy, fails to demonstrate any genuine remorse for what occurred. Indeed, he admitted to being distracted by his cellular phone, but his apology fails to address the fact that the maneuvering of the boat so close to shore was a premeditated act, which had been done on previous occasions and with apparent permission or on direction of the company he worked for. Holly Ostrov Ronai, Esq. stated that "Captain Schettino's apology is just a start. Ronai & Ronai, LLP, recently filed suit in the United States on behalf of the Hungarian Concordia victims, asking for damages of 200 million dollars. Peter Ronai, Esq.

After an inauspicious start, 2012 will be another difficult and uncertain year for the maritime industry faced with the aftermath of the Costa Concordia, further problems in the Euro zone, pirate attacks and increased sanctions, according to the latist Willis Marine Market Review  (part of Willis Group Holdings, the global insurance broker). The latest report reveals the Hull market is in a state of flux following the Costa Concordia disaster in January. Some underwriters in the London insurance market, which will bear the majority of the estimated USD 500m hull claim, are adamantly refusing premium reductions or even flat renewals. However, unaffected underwriters in the Far East and Scandinavia are more open to negotiations.

U.S. marshals briefly seized 'Carnival Triumph' in Galveston in $10 million legal dispute over Consta Concordia disaster victim's claim. The Carnival Triumph was seized for several hours at its port in Galveston, where it was scheduled to leave with 2,700 passengers. Both sides said they reached a confidential deal that released the ship in time to leave for its five-day cruise to Mexico, according to 'The Washington Post'. An arrest warrant was issued  for the MS Carnival Triumph, the 2,758-passenger cruise liner based in Galveston, owned by the same company that owns the Costa Concordia, the  cruise ship that ran aground off the coast of central Italy in January killing some 30 people. U.S.

U.S. Coast Guard is helping Italian authorities investigate the Costa Concordia disaster.   Vice Admiral Brian Salerno told a House Committee the USCG is also on guard against safety violations on foreign flagged vessels that use U.S. ports. Salerno said after the Costa Concordia incident, the Coast Guard immediately offered technical expertise and support to the Government of Italy's marine casualty investigation.  He added that the Coast Guard's expertise in marine casualty investigations will prove helpful as the investigation into the disaster moves forward.