It was Schettino's decision' says Costa CEO
Costa Crociere, the Italian cruise line that owns the Concordia ship that capsized off the coast of Tuscany on January 13, did not authorize the captain to bring the ship close to shore to make a salute, the company CEO told a Senate hearing Wednesday. "The decision was taken autonomously by Captain (Francesco) Schettino," said Pierluigi Foschi. "It is not forbidden to get close to the coast, which we have authorized at times, while other times we were not aware. But it is evident that the Concordia could not have been in that position".
Schettino said he was ordered by company managers to steer close to shore, according to taped phone calls that were leaked to Italian press Wednesday. "The rock was there but it did not appear on the instruments I had so I went there, to please the manager, go there, go there," he says.
Schettino, who is under house arrest for multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship, was recorded while in custody following his arrest 12 days ago. He is accused of running the ship aground in an effort to salute people who were on the Island of Giglio, a practice that industry professionals say is common. Costa Crociere, a subsidiary of American Carnival Cruise Lines, said the practice was not part of company protocol. "'Taking a bow' does not exist at our company," said Foschi.
The death toll stood at 16 and at least as many are still missing from the shipwreck.