Costa Concordia Seen From Space

[zombie67]

Holy shit! This really gives you a better sense of scale, for the size of these ships.


http://gcaptain.com/photo-of-the-day-costa-concordia-seen-from-space/?37843

http://d38ecmhxsvwui3.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/57967234_highres_dg.jpg

[Maxwell]

Holy hell! That's ridiculous... and an awesome pic. Nice find, Z!

[Fire$torm]

Wow! That pic also helps you realize how much of a moron the CC's captain was. He makes the Titanic's captain look like Boy Scout.

[DrPop]

Amazing. Mind boggling really. You wonder what exactly was going on, which we will probably never know...talk about the one moment in your life you wish you could take back forever. . .

[kaptainkarl1]

The Costa is 1000 feet in length 129 feet at the beam. Not a small vessel by any means but not the biggest either. The Captain definitely screwed the pooch by running aground as they struck a well known and named reef which is shown on charts when they were 130 yards off shore.

His actions in turning the vessel back toward the port and into shallow water probably saved lives and is a rational and reasonable reaction in that situation.

The rest of his actions were not so rational or reasonable. Although I can say this from the moment he struck the reef his career was over, done, forever. Imagine having that on your mind as you are trying to deal with a situation of that magnitude and chaos. Who's to say they would manage it better? However he acted like a completely self serving idiot when he left his command. Which will only add to the charges against him.

The key here is to not ever let it get to that point. One of my mentors said to me as I was being groomed for my first Captains position "Never go faster than you want to run into something."

Hitting a reef at cruising speed in a vessel that weighs 112,000 tons is going to tear steel like tissue paper.

Just some thoughts I had. Very cool picture by the way. I just love satellite photography!

[Crazybob's Son]

One of the pictures they showed on tv for this there was a lighthouse (attached image) right in front of the ship. Aren't those designed to show boats where land is?

719

[kaptainkarl1]

That is a red light showing the left side of the entrance to the harbour. Europe uses the "B" buoyage system which is the opposite of the "A" system we use in America. "Red Right Returning" red buoys and lights denote the right side of the channel as you enter the harbor in the US. The captain was trying to get into shallow water near the harbor. I don't know if a vessel that size could even enter the harbor on Giglio.

[Fire$torm]

Question: Why don't these tubs have active sonar for coastline/shallow water navigation? Fifty grand or so is a LOT cheaper then sinking a cruse liner......

[kaptainkarl1]

Not sure if cruise ships have forward facing sonar as they are typically blue water, to sea buoy, pilot comes aboard, tugs come out and into port you go. Many Super Yachts have it especially if you are cruising in the South Pacific as good soundings on charts are sporadic at best. Yachts tend to explore and find secluded anchorages which means carefully wiggling through skinny water depths.

Forward sonar is also used on yachts with high profile clientele where security is a risk. Catch divers near vessel. Typically Russian billionaires who made some enemies along the way.

[Mike029]

Amazing.... talk about the one moment in your life you wish you could take back forever. . .


Was thing the same thing...