On January 13, 2012 the tragedy of the Costa Concordia began to unfold around 8:30pm EST. As soon as I was notified of the incident, I began creating a timeline of the events on this website. On the one year anniversary of this tragedy, I have restructured, edited, and cleaned up the original timeline to share with my readers. Some minor parts of the timeline have been removed, but the majority remains. I have also not edited the text, therefore some information in the timeline may be inaccurate today since we did not have all the information of the incident at the time of the incident. Please keep in mind that any quote or other piece of information does not reflect the opinion or viewpoint of Cruise Currents or the editor unless specifically specified.
Timeline of the Costa Concordia Tragedy
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8:30pm – January 13, 2012
We have just received word that Costa Cruise Line’s Costa Concordia has rammed into the side of the pier near the island of Giligo. Their have so far been 2 confirmed deaths. A statement from Costa Cruises reads…
“Costa Cruises confirms that during the evacuation of an emergency, near the island of Giglio, about 3,200 of the approximately 1,000 passengers and crew members on board the Costa Concordia. The evacuation was carried out promptly, but the location of the ship, which become more difficult, is complicating the last landing. At the moment it is not possible to define the causes of the problem occurred. ‘S company is working with the utmost care to give maximum support.
Costa Concordia was making a cruise in the Mediterranean from Civitavecchia with stops planned game in Savona, Marseille, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Cagliari, Palermo. On board there were about 1,000 passengers of nationality ‘Italian, more than 500 Germans, about 160 French and 1,000 crew members.”
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8:40pm – January 13, 2012
There are now 3 dead, as some passengers have jumped off of the Costa Concordia into the ocean. @crusieshipcrew is now reporting that the ship originally hit something else and rammed into the pier to avoid further listing.
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9:00pm – January 13, 2o12
At this time the rescue mission is about over. Passengers are arriving at the island of Giligo, and the mayor has issued a state of emergency. The city is currently trying to put passengers up in any vacant schools, hospitals, or hotels. Costa Cruises has not announced what the cause of this incident was yet, but they say the evacuation was done quickly. The current death toll is unknown whether it is 2 or 3 passengers dead, after they jumped off of the ship. When the ship first listed it began to take on water and the electricity went out. This is all that is known as of right now, I will continue the updates as needed throughout the night.
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9:30pm – January 13, 2012
There are unconfirmed reports from the local media in Italy that the death toll has now risen to 8 people, and that disabled passengers are trapped on board the ship.
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10:15pm – January 13, 2012
It is now reported that at least between 200 and 300 passengers are still stranded on board the Costa Concordia. the mayor of Giligo has said that he fears the death toll will rise as it becoming harder to rescue those still on board the vessel. some of the passengers still on board are reported to be disabled. an official cause to this incident is still to be confirmed. We will continue to update throughout the night.
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10:30pm – January 13, 2012
The Italian coast guard has now confirmed at least 3 deaths after retrieving 3 bodies from the Mediterranean Sea.
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10:50pm – January 13, 2012
New picture from inside lifeboat.
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10:55pm – January 13, 2012
The Costa Concordia has now rolled onto her side. The Costa Concordia has capsized.
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11:20pm – January 13, 2012
50 people are still on board the Costa Concordia and are now being rescued by helicopter.
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11:30pm – January 13, 2012
Costa has issued the following statement on their italian website…
“It ‘a tragedy that deeply affects our company. Our first thoughts are with the victims, and we want to express our condolences and our closeness to their family and friends. Right now all our efforts are concentrated in the last emergency operations, as well as offering assistance to guests and crew who were aboard the ship, to bring them back home as soon as possible. Emergency procedures were immediately taken to evacuate the ship. The slope, which gradually took over the ship made the evacuation extremely difficult. We wish to express profound and heartfelt thanks to the Coast Guard and the forces it coordinates, including the authorities and citizens of the island of Giglio, who has been provided in the rescue and assistance to guests and crew. The company will work with the highest availability with the relevant authorities to verify the causes of the event. ”
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11:55pm – January 13, 2012
It is now known that whatever the Costa Concordia hit tonight, it ripped a gash in the side of the ship measuring 165 feet across on the left side, the rescue operation is still underway.
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12:05am – January 14, 2012
Costa claims that they are in the final stages of their rescue efforts.
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12:30am – January 14, 2012
8 people have now been found dead. We are currently awaiting word on the status of the emergency rescue operation.
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1:12am – January 14, 2012
First images of the Costa Concordia capsized.
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7:20am – January 14, 2012
As it turns into day in Italy we are hoping more images and news will emerge from Italy regarding the Costa Concordia and here crew and guests. At this time the number of deaths is unknown.
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7:55am – January 14, 2012
At least 3 are now confirmed dead, and 69 are still reported missing.
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8:05am – January 14, 2012
We have now learned from a passenger on board the Costa Concordia last night, that the crew and captain didn’t wan’t to evacuate the ship. She says that the crew and captain kept telling them that everything is ok, we are fine. She also claims that the crew didn’t do enough to inform the passengers on proper evacuation procedures, and that the fatalities could have been avoided if the crew had done a better job evacuating.
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11:55pm – January 13, 2012
It is now known that whatever the Costa Concordia hit tonight, it ripped a gash in the side of the ship measuring 165 feet across on the left side, the rescue operation is still underway.
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12:05am – January 14, 2012
Costa claims that they are in the final stages of their rescue efforts.
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12:30am – January 14, 2012
8 people have now been found dead. We are currently awaiting word on the status of the emergency rescue operation.
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1:12am – January 14, 2012
First images of the Costa Concordia capsized.
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7:20am – January 14, 2012
As it turns into day in Italy we are hoping more images and news will emerge from Italy regarding the Costa Concordia and here crew and guests. At this time the number of deaths is unknown.
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7:55am – January 14, 2012
At least 3 are now confirmed dead, and 69 are still reported missing.
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8:05am – January 14, 2012
We have now learned from a passenger on board the Costa Concordia last night, that the crew and captain didn’t wan’t to evacuate the ship. She says that the crew and captain kept telling them that everything is ok, we are fine. She also claims that the crew didn’t do enough to inform the passengers on proper evacuation procedures, and that the fatalities could have been avoided if the crew had done a better job evacuating.
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9:35am – January 14, 2012
Divers are expected to enter the Costa Concordia from underneath the water to continue searching for passengers. These missions are expected to continue for 2-3 days. The captain of the ship is currently being questioned in Giglio.
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10:50am – January 14, 2012
Costa Cruises has provided a new update on the situation…
The incident occurred last night in Costa Concordia is a tragedy that deeply affects our company. Our first thoughts go to all the victims and express our condolences and our proximity to their families and friends. We are close to the people who were injured and We follow carefully their course. All our efforts are now concentrated in offering assistance to guests and crew who were aboard the ship, to bring them back home as soon as possible. The customer service of Costa Cruises has already made contact by telephone with all the guests who were to board the ship today and tomorrow in Savona in subsequent ports in the program of the cruise. At the moment there is no change in the flight schedule of all the other ships in the fleet of Costa Cruises. Anyone wanting information can, however, as always, refer to the number 848.50.50.50. All men and women of Costa Cruise thank you from the most bottom of my heart the Coast Guard and the forces it coordinates, including the authorities and citizens of the island of Giglio and its citizens and the authorities of Porto Santo Stefano, who spared no effort in the rescue and assistance to guests and crew.Also thank all medical personnel who served and is assisting the wounded and all those who need support. The company has already made available to competent authorities for the incident investigations initiated.
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10:55am – January 14, 2012
Divers are now searching the bottom decks of the Costa Concordia in search of passengers.
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2:00pm – January 14, 2012
The captain of the Costa Concordia has been arrested on charges of manslaughter and abandoning the ship.
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2:45pm – January 14, 2012
According to various sources, another crew member has been arrested along with the captain. Another report we are getting now is that the ship was about 2.5 miles off course when it struck the boulder/rocks.
Removing the data recorder.
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4:00pm – January 14, 2012
Captain claims, “Reefs not marked on map.” The number of passengers missing has been brought down to 40. The underwater search of the inside of Concordia has been suspended.
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6:50pm – January 14, 2o12
2 people found alive inside the Costa Concordia. The 2 people found alive have been reached by firemen, awaiting confirmation of their safety.
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8:00pm – January 14, 2012
The 2 passengers that were found inside a cabin are reported to be in good health, no word yet on if they have escaped.
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8:50pm – January 14, 2012
The 2 people that were found inside Concordia are now off the vessel and on shore.
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This concludes Cruise Current’s Coverage of the Costa Concordia incident from January 13, 2012 to January 14, 2012.
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Photo sources: BBC, Cruise Law News, The Sun UK, The Mirror UK, La Republica, Daily Mail UK.
