‘The Sinking and Salvage of Costa Concordia’
Noel Phelan's first career was as a science and mathematics teacher. He then moved into IT with IBM where he spent 25 years in various technical and management positions. He has been a volunteer guide at the Maritime Museum for several years and enjoys showing visitors over HMAS Vampire, HMAS Advance, HMAS Onslow and First Lady. Noel is also the team leader for the museum speakers.
The Costa Concordia sank on the 13th January 2012 one hundred years after the TITANIC sank and in similar circumstances. The ship had 3,229 passengers and a crew of 1,023. The captain of the ship was Francesco Schettino. He diverted the ship from its normal course to do a “salute” to a friend on Giglio Island. At around 9 pm he took control of the ship and it hit a rock which tore a 53 metre gash in the port side.
Captain Schettino was in shock after striking the rock and failed to take command of the situation and organize for the passengers to abandon ship. There had been no lifeboat drill so the passengers and crew had to fend for themselves. It took over 6 hours to get everyone off the ship.
Come along and hear what really happened and the chain of events that led to this disaster and the salvaging of the ship that took years and 2 billion dollars. The ship cost $900 million to build.