Concordia emergency procedures called into question by new video footage
Carnival is to carry out a major review of its safety and emergency procedures following the Costa Concordia tragedy.
The announcement comes as amateur video footage has emerged showing Concordia crew telling passengers that nothing was wrong and advising them to go back to their cabins, after the ship began taking in water.
It is believed that the delay in deciding to evacuate the ship may have cost lives.
At least 11 people have died and hopes are fading for the 21 who remain missing after the ship hit rocks off the Tuscan coast a week ago.
Rescue workers have been forced to stop their search again after the ship moved in choppy seas.
According to BBC reporters at the scene, rescue officials fear the ship could suddenly slip into much deeper water.
This morning Carnival, which ownes Costa, P&O, Cunard, Princess Cruises and other cruise brands, admitted that the tragic accident had "called into question our company’s safety and emergency response procedures and practices".
Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation & plc, said: "While I have every confidence in the safety of our vessels and the professionalism of our crews, this review will evaluate all practices and procedures to make sure that this kind of accident doesn’t happen again."
The review is being led by Captain James Hunn, a retired US Navy Captain and currently the company’s senior vice president of Maritime Policy & Compliance.
Hunn and senior health and safety executives from each of the lines will review all safety and emergency response policies and procedures, officer and crew training and evaluation, bridge management and company-wide response and support efforts.
The cruise line is also bringing in outside industry-leading experts in the fields of emergency response organisation, training and implementation to conduct an audit of all of the company’s emergency response and safety procedures and to conduct a thorough review of the Costa Concordia accident.
Yesterday at a press conference, the Cruise Lines International Association called for a major safety review by the International Maritime Organisation.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026