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Maritime Risk International

Accident investigation and the human factor

Mads Ragnvald Nielsen, of CMarTech, and Arne Sagen, FNI, look at the complicated issue of captains being put on trial after maritime accidents

On 13 January 2012 the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia capsized and partially sank after a grounding near the island of Giglio in Italy, with the loss of 32 lives. The commander of the ship, Captain Francesco Schettino, was subsequently sentenced to more than 16 years’ imprisonment following the Italian Supreme Court conviction holding him responsible for the accident.

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