Italian cruise ship casualty review

As Maritime Risk International goes to press, salvors are beginning to work on the 2006-built, 114,147gt Costa Cruises owned Costa Concordia, which hit a rock and grounded close to the Italian island of Giglio on 13 January. 4,231 people were on board – at least 17 are dead and a further 15 unaccounted for. Below is some of the reaction:

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary-general Koji Sekimizu:

“Causes of this accident are still not yet established. We must wait for the casualty investigation and should not pre-judge or speculate at this stage. I would like to urge the flag state administration to carry out the casualty investigation covering all aspects of this accident and provide the findings to the IMO under the provisions of SOLAS as soon as possible.