42°21'20.43"N, 10°55'48.66"E

Five are dead. Fifteen are still missing.

Ship's captain: "We were about 300 meters from the shore, more or less."

You know what else was 300 meters from the shore? A huge rock. See for yourself. Paste the above coordinates into the Google Earth search field or choose "satellite view" in Google Maps. In Google Earth, you can click on the "show ruler" icon (looks like a ruler); select meters, and measure from the nearest shore. 300 meters.

Captain Schettino is a real piece of work:

Meanwhile, attention focused on the captain, who was spotted by Coast Guard officials and passengers fleeing the scene even as the chaotic and terrifying evacuation was under way.

. . .

A French couple who boarded the Concordia in Marseille, Ophelie Gondelle and David Du Pays, told the Associated Press they saw the captain in a lifeboat, covered by a blanket . . . .

Coast Guard officers later spotted Schettino on land as the evacuation unfolded. The officers urged him to return to his ship and honor his duty to stay aboard until everyone was safely off the vessel, but he ignored them, Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo said.

. . .

The route the ship followed turned out to be too close to the coast, and it seems that his decision in handling the emergency didn't follow Costa Crociere's procedures . . . .

Jorgen Loren, chairman of the Swedish Maritime Officer's Association, said the captain clearly deviated from the ship's intended route.

"It is remarkable because weather conditions were good and these cruise ships have the best and most modern technical equipment. All conditions were ideal," he said.

(Emphasis mine.) Isn't "Schettino" Italian for "little shit"? Just askin'.

Added: For those of you having trouble with Google Earth, here's a map.

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posted by rdbrewer at 04:49 PM

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