Cruise captain 'overrode' computer
The company that owns a cruise ship that crashed off Italy's Tuscan coast is blaming the captain for a disaster that killed at least six people.
Costa said the captain Francesco Schettino made an "unauthorised deviation" from the liner's course.
Costa Crociere chairman and chief executive Pier Luigi Foschi said that the company would provide Schettino with legal assistance.
But he said that the company, which is owned by the world’s largest cruiseline, Carnival, disassociated itself from his behavior.
He said Costa ships have their routes programmed, and alarms go off when they deviate.
“This route was put in correctly. The fact that it left from this course is due solely to a maneuver by the commander that was unapproved, unauthorized and unknown to Costa,” he said.
The comments increased the pressure on the captain, who already is under investigation by authorities for suspected manslaughter and as well as allegations he abandoned ship before the passengers were safe.
Mr Foschi said one of the company’s main concerns was to ensure fuel does not leak out from the upended hull into the pristine waters off Giglio.
The ship had 500,000 gallons of fuel on board, in 17 separate tanks.
“There are no signs of pollution” to date, but officials are on high alert in case the ship suddenly shifts due to worsening weather conditions, Mr Foschi said. Sensors have been put in place to track the movements of the ship.
Meanwhile the rescue operation was been suspended after the Costa Concordia shifted a few inches in rough seas.
The local Fire Department said the ship had moved both vertically and horizontally.
