It has been a year since the tragic shipwreck of the Costa Concordia. On Jan. 13, 2012 (Friday the 13th), the modern cruise ship, carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew, departed Civitavecchia, Italy, and less than three hours later slammed into a reef in Italian waters just off the Island of Giglio. The ship immediately took on water through a 230-foot gash in its hull and began to sink. There were 32 fatalities and multiple injuries. It is claimed that the ship was permitted to be navigated off course, and ventured dangerously close to shore to perform a “sail-by-salute” to the residents of the island. And if true, what a salute it turned out to be…the ship remains in position, lying on its side, still saluting. The Concordia (like the Titanic), is now a daily reminder of just how fragile a leviathan ship can be, when poor navigation collides with nature. Then, the lawsuits started.
Many civil lawsuits were filed in the United States by passengers and by residents of the Giglio island, including fishermen, property owners, business owners and those working in and around the island who claim damages to their businesses stemming from the wreck. Unlike the ship and the captain (destined to remain in Italy for a long time), many if not all of the lawsuits filed here will quickly depart the jurisdiction.
