Topic: Cruise ship sinking - Italian coast guard transcript

[CDN Aviator]

For good laugh..........in a morbid kinda way

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_ITALY_SHIP_AGROUND_TRANSCRIPT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Here is a translation of the transcript of the conversation between Capt. Francesco Schettino, commander of the grounded Costa Concordia, and Capt. Gregorio De Falco of the Italian coast guard in Livorno.

In the conversation, De Falco repeatedly orders Schettino to return to the ship to oversee the evacuation, while Schettino resists, making excuses that it's dark and that the ship is listing.

The audio was first made available on the website of Corriere della Sera, and the Italian coast guard confirmed its authenticity Tuesday to The Associated Press.



-De Falco: "This is De Falco speaking from Livorno. Am I speaking with the commander?"

-Schettino: "Yes. Good evening, Cmdr. De Falco."

-De Falco: "Please tell me your name."

-Schettino: "I'm Cmdr. Schettino, commander."

-De Falco: "Schettino? Listen Schettino. There are people trapped on board. Now you go with your boat under the prow on the starboard side. There is a pilot ladder. You will climb that ladder and go on board. You go on board and then you will tell me how many people there are. Is that clear? I'm recording this conversation, Cmdr. Schettino..."

-Schettino: "Commander, let me tell you one thing..."

-De Falco: "Speak up! Put your hand in front of the microphone and speak more loudly, is that clear?"

-Schettino: "In this moment, the boat is tipping..."

-De Falco: "I understand that, listen, there are people that are coming down the pilot ladder of the prow. You go up that pilot ladder, get on that ship and tell me how many people are still on board. And what they need. Is that clear? You need to tell me if there are children, women or people in need of assistance. And tell me the exact number of each of these categories. Is that clear? Listen Schettino, that you saved yourself from the sea, but I am going to... I'm going to make sure you get in trouble. ...I am going to make you pay for this. Go on board, (expletive)!"

-Schettino: "Commander, please..."

-De Falco: "No, please. You now get up and go on board. They are telling me that on board there are still..."

-Schettino: "I am here with the rescue boats, I am here, I am not going anywhere, I am here..."

-De Falco: "What are you doing, commander?"

-Schettino: "I am here to coordinate the rescue..."

-De Falco: "What are you coordinating there? Go on board! Coordinate the rescue from aboard the ship. Are you refusing?"

-Schettino: "No, I am not refusing."

-De Falco: "Are you refusing to go aboard commander? Can you tell me the reason why you are not going?"

-Schettino: "I am not going because the other lifeboat is stopped."

-De Falco: "You go aboard. It is an order. Don't make any more excuses. You have declared 'abandon ship.' Now I am in charge. You go on board! Is that clear? Do you hear me? Go, and call me when you are aboard. My air rescue crew is there."

-Schettino: "Where are your rescuers?"

-De Falco: "My air rescue is on the prow. Go. There are already bodies, Schettino."

-Schettino: "How many bodies are there?"

-De Falco: "I don't know. I have heard of one. You are the one who has to tell me how many there are. Christ."

-Schettino: "But do you realize it is dark and here we can't see anything..."

-De Falco: "And so what? You want go home, Schettino? It is dark and you want to go home? Get on that prow of the boat using the pilot ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what their needs are. Now!"

-Schettino: "...I am with my second in command."

-De Falco: "So both of you go up then ... You and your second go on board now. Is that clear?"

-Schettino: "Commander, I want to go on board, but it is simply that the other boat here ... there are other rescuers. It has stopped and is waiting..."

-De Falco: "It has been an hour that you have been telling me the same thing. Now, go on board. Go on board! And then tell me immediately how many people there are there."

-Schettino: "OK, commander"

-De Falco: "Go, immediately!"

---

[Driving King]

WOW!! interesting communication... 

[jollyjacktar]

As a Sailor, I'm saying this Captain is a POS.  I am professionally disgusted with the actions of some of the crew who put themselves before their passengers.  It makes me want to puke.  I would not be able to face myself in the mirror if I was such a friggin weasel.

[milnews.ca]

As a Sailor, I'm saying this Captain is a POS.

In Italian, the term is stronzo.  And I agree.

[mariomike]

Not the first time.
"When I give the order abandon ship, it doesn't matter what time I leave. If some people want to stay, they can stay.":
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/11/weekinreview/headliners-career-overboard.html

[uptheglens]

[AirForceMonkey]

[milnews.ca]

Uh, as far as we know, the ship's captain wasn't in the military.

[jollyjacktar]

Uh, as far as we know, the ship's captain wasn't in the military.

No, but he wore a uniform and for all we know it might have had a chicken on top too.  And that seems to be his attitude towards the whole affair.

[Haletown]

What happened . . .   play by play reconstruction

http://vimeo.com/35351659

[daftandbarmy]

The current plight of the Costa Concordia reminds me of a comment made
by Churchill.

After his retirement he was cruising the Mediterranean on an Italian
cruise liner and some Italian journalists asked why an ex British
Prime Minister should chose an Italian ship.

“There are three things I like about being on an Italian cruise ship”
said Churchill.

“First their cuisine is unsurpassed. Second their service is superb.
And then, in time of emergency, there is none of this nonsense about
women and children first”.

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/isodfubv/janfrancis/165/churchill/

[cupper]

This isn't the first time with an Italian cruise ship Captain either.

I recall that several years ago a similar event happened where they were close enough to shore that a strong swimmer could make it in, but too far for non athletic types.

The Captain in that case also was one of the first off, leaving passengers and crew to fend for themselves.

He disappeared for several days after. When he was finally found and arrested, he claimed that he left and went ashore to better organize the rescue effort.

[mariomike]

This isn't the first time with an Italian cruise ship Captain either.

I recall that several years ago a similar event happened where they were close enough to shore that a strong swimmer could make it in, but too far for non athletic types.

The Captain in that case also was one of the first off, leaving passengers and crew to fend for themselves.

He disappeared for several days after. When he was finally found and arrested, he claimed that he left and went ashore to better organize the rescue effort.

I believe you may be referring to this case.
Reply #4:
http://forums.milnet.ca/forums/index.php/topic,104158.msg1106249.html#msg1106249

[cupper]

I read that as well, but this was a different story altogether.

It happened in the last 10 years (since I moved to the US, and it occurred somewhere in the Med (me thinks off the Italian coast). And it was an Italian officer.

[mariomike]

When he was finally found and arrested, he claimed that he left and went ashore to better organize the rescue effort.

OK. I thought you might have been thinking of the captain mentioned above:
"But in interviews, Captain Avranas was unapologetic for leaving the ship ahead of others, saying he was better able to direct rescue efforts from shore.":
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/06/world/greek-captain-criticized-for-leaving-ship-early.html

There has been a lot of comparison of the behavoir of the two captains:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=oceanos+costa+concordia&rls=com.microsoft:en-ca:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7RNQN_enCA465&redir_esc=&ei=ejobT4K1FKiO0QGi0ejKBw#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-ca%3AIE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7RNQN_enCA465&source=hp&q=oceanos+%22costa+concordia%22&pbx=1&oq=oceanos+%22costa+concordia%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=78l78l1l875l1l1l0l0l0l0l735l735l6-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=238f0fdaf0ce6052&biw=1152&bih=631

[uptheglens]

This isn't the first time with an Italian cruise ship Captain either.

I recall that several years ago a similar event happened where they were close enough to shore that a strong swimmer could make it in, but too far for non athletic types.

The Captain in that case also was one of the first off, leaving passengers and crew to fend for themselves.

He disappeared for several days after. When he was finally found and arrested, he claimed that he left and went ashore to better organize the rescue effort.

Maybe it's this one. The timeline's right, but it's a Greek ferry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Express_Samina

[uptheglens]

Uh, as far as we know, the ship's captain wasn't in the military.

And I doubt that he wore Fascist Italian medals too. It's just a joke.

[jollyjacktar]

And I doubt that he wore Fascist Italian medals too. It's just a joke.

And it was a good one too.  I loved Allo Allo!

[milnews.ca]

And it was a good one too.  I loved Allo Allo!

Only saw one or two episodes - none of them had the Italian Bersagliere in it.  I stand educated.

[uptheglens]

Only saw one or two episodes - none of them had the Italian Bersagliere in it.  I stand educated.

He appeared later in the series, IIRC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHAs7nO95Ks

[ArmyVern]

 

[cupper]

Anybody know what the obscenity was that the Official used?

I heard on an NPR report that they were selling T-Shirts in Italy with the quotation on them, but I haven't seen any reprts that actually say (or hint at) what he said. Apparently they are a popular item.

[uptheglens]

Anybody know what the obscenity was that the Official used?

I heard on an NPR report that they were selling T-Shirts in Italy with the quotation on them, but I haven't seen any reprts that actually say (or hint at) what he said. Apparently they are a popular item.

"Vada a bordo, cazzo"

Roughly translated, it means "Get back on board, d1ckhead"

[ArmyVern]

Anybody know what the obscenity was that the Official used?

I heard on an NPR report that they were selling T-Shirts in Italy with the quotation on them, but I haven't seen any reprts that actually say (or hint at) what he said. Apparently they are a popular item.

Link to the video at this news story ...

Cruise Ship Quotation Making Big Money

The Costa Concordia cruise ship had struck a coral reef off Italy's coast, but as the disaster was under way, Captain Francesco Schettino ordered dinner less than an hour later, according to a cook. With his cruise ship sinking, the captain wanted food, said a cook from the ship in an interview with a Filipino television station on Thursday. Cook Rogelio Barista told the GMA Network that Schettino ordered the dinner amid the deadly chaos that killed at least 11 people with some 21 still missing.

"We wondered what was going on ... At that time, we really felt something was wrong. ... The stuff in the kitchen was falling off shelves and we realized how grave the situation was," Barista told the network.

The cook said Schettino ordered dinner around 10:30 p.m. Friday, less than an hour after after the ship struck coral reef off the west coast of Italy at 9:42 p.m.

"I have had 12 years of experience as a cook on a cruise ship. ... I have even witnessed fires, so I wasn't that scared," Barista said. "But I did wonder, though, what the captain was doing ... why was he still there."

The ship was operated by Costa Cruises of Genoa and owned by Carnival Corp. It was carrying more than 4,200 passengers on Friday when it struck the reef just off the Tuscan island of Giglio and capsized. Schettino was not authorized to take the ship into dangerous waters so close to the shore. He is under house arrest for his actions and may face charges of manslaughter, abandoning ship and causing a shipwreck.

Schettino is suspected of making an unauthorized detour from the ship's programmed route into the dangerous waters. The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported earlier in the week that Schettino may have sailed close to the Tuscan island to delight his head waiter, who is from the island. Others have suggested Schettino may have sailed close to the island to deliver a "foghorn-blasting salute to the local population," according to Fox News.

Schettino's behavior after the wreck has been as curious as the ship's fatal path. A new audiotape was released Thursday detailing the first reported contact between port officials and the Costa Concordia. Schettino was heard on the tape telling port officials the ship only had a blackout more than 30 minutes after it crashed into the coral reef. He apparently neglected to mention that the cruise ship was sinking.

The recording, according to Fox News, was made at 10:12 p.m. Schettino told the port official was he was checking to see why the ship had a blackout. He didn't tell the official that the ship had struck the coral reef, and that it had been involved in a chaotic disaster for more than a half hour. Some 20 minutes after that conversation with the port officials is when the cook says Schettino ordered dinner.

An audio tape released earlier in the week detailed tense conversation between Schettino and a Coast Guard officer responding to the accident after Schettino had abandoned the ship and was in a lifeboat. The Italian Coast Guard officer told Schettino to get back on the ship he had abandoned.

"You go on board! Is that clear? Do you hear me?" the officer shouted to Schettino, who was safe in a lifeboat away from the ship as passengers tried to escape, while others had already perished inside.

"It is an order," the Coast Guard officer shouted. "Don't make any more excuses. You have declared 'abandon ship.' Now I am in charge."

Schettino responded saying the ship was too dark to return to, while also noting the ship was dangerously tipping.

"I am here with the rescue boats," Schettino said. "I am here. I am not going anywhere. I am here to coordinate the rescue."

"What are you coordinating there?" the Coast Guard officer said. "Go on board! Coordinate the rescue from aboard the ship. Are you refusing?"

Said Schettino: "Do you realize it is dark and here we can't see anything?"

Said the Coast Guard officer: "And so what? You want to go home, Schettino? It is dark and you want to go home? Get on that prow of the boat using the pilot ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what their needs are. Now!

"There are already bodies now, Schettino."

[lethalLemon]