Concordia captain sentenced to jail
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The captain of the crashed Costa Concordia has been sentenced to 16 years in prison as prosecutors called him a ‘reckless idiot’.
Captain Francesco Schettino had yesterday sobbed when he described his pain as the ship crashed into the rocks off the island of Giglio in 2012, killing 32 people.
Schettino was accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship, but his lawyers said it was the collective failure of the crew.
The captain is expected to appeal.
Cruise.co.uk managing director Seamus Conlon asked whether the sentence was long enough. He said: “We’re sure that many of the victims and families of the Costa Concordia will feel that justice has been served now that Francesco Schettino has received a long sentence for abandoning his ship in 2012, although there may be some questions raised about whether 16 years is enough given that 32 people lost their lives in this tragic incident.”
A recent survey by the online cruise travel agent found many cruise passengers feel safer since new safety regulations were put in place following the Concordia incident.
Conlon added: “The Costa Concordia is an important reminder that safety is the primary concern for cruise liners and we’re confident these standards will only continue to increase.”
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