Friday, February 17th 2012

Time 4.00 pm (CET)
The Concordia Emergency Commissioner's Office and Costa Crociere have announced that the pumping of fuel from the cruise ship Costa Concordia has been continuing around the clock since 5 pm on February 12, in accordance with the plan devised by the Neri/Smit Salvage team.

From the time defueling began until 7 am on February 17, a total of 952  cubic meters of fuel had been pumped out of 4 tanks located in the forward part of the ship. 

A total of 1,428 cubic meters of fuel is still to be removed from 13 tanks, of which 576 cubic meters in the forward part of the ship.  According to the schedule drawn up by the Neri/Smit Salvage experts, if the sea and weather conditions remain favorable, all of the fuel still on board the Costa Concordia should be extracted within 3 working weeks.

Since the outset Costa Crociere's priorities have been to guarantee maximum safety, the least possible environmental impact and protection of the environment of Giglio and the island's tourism industry, while carrying out defueling within a reasonable length of time.

Both the defueling procedure and the other operations scheduled on Costa Concordia are being conducted jointly with full cooperation between Costa Crociere and the Concordia Emergency Commissioner's Office. 

Costa Concordia January 13th, 2012. Never forget.

One month after that terrible night, we all at Costa Crociere renew our sincere condolences to the families and friends of our Guests and crew members who lost their lives in this tragic incident. In the history of our Company, for sure these have been the saddest days of ever. We have all experienced, and with us who knows us, a dismay, a sadness, a deep pain, that we not envisioned to be possible. This tragic incident should not be happened. We will never forget those who lost their lives and those who have experienced moments of fear in front of Giglio Island. We commit to make this will not happen never again.

Thursday, February 2nd 2012

Time 7.00 pm (CET)
Costa Crociere has worked from the hours immediately after the Costa Concordia accident to ensure the least possible environmental impact and to safeguard the island of Giglio’s business activities and tourism. Right from the outset, the measures drawn up by the Company have constantly been shared with and approved by the competent Italian authorities, in a spirit of full, transparent and total cooperation.
After engaging leading international salvage experts Smit Salvage BV to remove the fuel contained in the Costa Concordia’s tanks, and presenting a plan to remove other materials and potential pollutants, which is ready to get under way as soon as weather conditions permit, Costa Cruises is also working with the utmost commitment and speed on the plan to remove the ship itself, fully aware that this is a priority to protect the environment on Giglio and the island’s tourism.
The Company has set up a technical committee, with representatives from Costa Cruises, Carnival Corporation & plc, Fincantieri, Rina and sector experts, including academics, who will work fo the best possible drawing up of the plan, on a joint basis with the competent authorities.
As anticipated in a letter sent to Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner Franco Gabrielli, Costa Cruises has called for tenders 10 companies throughout the world to present a working plan to enterely remove the hull of the Costa Concordia. 
The invitation has been sent to the world’s leading operators, who have the capabilities to perform the work in the shortest time possible, while ensuring maximum safety and the least possible environmental impact: 1) Smit Salvage BV, 2) Svitzer Salvage BV, 3) Mammoet Salvage BV, 4) Titan Salvage, 5) Resolve Marine Group Inc., 6) T&T Marine Salvage Inc., 7) Donjon Marine Inc., 8) Tito Neri S.r.l., 9) Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co. Ltd., 10) The Nippon Salvage Co Ltd. 
The plans must be presented to Costa Cruises by the beginning of March 2012, for joint assessment with the Civil Protection Scientific Committee, in order to allow the best one to be selected by the end of March 2012.
This timeline represents the best possible outcome in a situation of this kind, although it cannot be excluded that there will be delays given the complexity of the operation.

Tuesday, January 31st 2012

Time 2.00 pm (CET)
VIII Permanent Commission for Public Works
Senate of the Italian Republic
Hearing of Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO Costa Crociere
Listen to the Hearing

Friday, January 27th 2012

Time 4.00 pm (CET)
Costa Crociere wishes to again express its profound condolences to the families of the victims, continued sympathy to the families of the missing and deep regret and sorrow for the damages and hardship the Costa Concordia accident caused to all its guests.
Costa Crociere announced a compensation proposal for guests who have returned home after the Jan. 13 tragic Costa Concordia accident. This proposal is the result of negotiations between Costa Crociere and consumer associations protecting guests’ interests, with the support of multiple tourism and travel industry associations. In Italy, the company has already reached an agreement with the National Council of Consumers and Users, a national organization.
The families of the deceased and guests who were injured and required medical treatment on site will be covered under a separate proposal that will take into account their individual circumstances.
The compensation package for Costa Concordia guests who have returned home includes:

•  A lump sum of 11,000 euros (US$14,458.07 at today’s exchange rate) per person as indemnification, covering all patrimonial and nonpatrimonial damages, including loss of baggage and personal effects, psychological distress and loss of enjoyment of the cruise vacation;
•  Reimbursement of the value of the cruise, including harbor taxes;
• Reimbursement of air and bus transfers included in the cruise package;
•  Full reimbursement of travel expenses to reach the port of embarkation and return home;
•  Reimbursement of any medical expenses resulting from the cruise;
•  Reimbursement of expenses incurred on board during the cruise.

This compensation package is higher than the current indemnification limits provided for in international conventions and laws currently in force. The 11,000 euro lump-sum payment is offered to all Costa Concordia passengers, including nonpaying children, regardless of their age.
Costa also has pledged not to deduct from this sum any amount paid by any insurance policy stipulated by guests. In addition, the company will return all goods stored in cabin safes, where retrieval is possible.
Costa Crociere also has pledged to provide a program for psychological assistance to any guests that request it. The company has further agreed to offer customers the ability to cancel any upcoming cruise booked before Jan. 13, on any of its routes, without penalty through Feb. 7, 2012.
Dedicated operation units will handle claims to ensure timely resolution.

Wednesday, January 25th 2012

Time 2.30 pm (CET)
VIII Permanent Commission for Public Works
Senate of the Italian Republic
Hearing of Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO Costa Crociere
Watch the Hearing

Tuesday, January 24th 2012

Time 3.00 pm (CET)
With reference to news reports on discounts and promotional offers, Costa Cruises feels bound to point out that the company has never offered any discount on future cruises to guests who were on board the Costa Concordia for the cruise of January 13th and involved in the tragic accident. The information published by a newspaper and reported in various news outlets is totally unfounded, as is confirmed by the English passenger who was quoted by the newspaper.
Costa Cruises reiterates that after the tragic accident the company’s priority has always been to provide the maximum possible assistance and solace to the people involved. From the outset the company has been fully aware of and saddened by the suffering and hardship endured by guests and crew members and has acted with this firmly borne in mind.
On a joint basis with rescue teams, the Company worked to provide evacuated passengers and crew members with all the necessary assistance to ensure they were able to return home. Subsequently it contacted guests by telephone, after they had returned home, to check on their physical and emotional wellbeing, and to confirm that they will receive a refund for the cruise and all material expenses relating to it.
As already announced, the company welcomes discussion with its guests and all consumer protection associations to determine indemnity for the hardship endured, with the support of tourism sector trade associations with which it has been in contact for days.
Driven by its sense of ethics and the values of fairness and responsibility which guide it, the Company has also given all customers with bookings for future Costa cruises the possibility, if feeling afraid, to cancel their cruise booking by giving notice no later than February 7th. All travel agents who work with the Company were informed of this days ago.
Costa Cruises would also like to clarify that starting on the day after the accident, all advertising initiatives planned were cancelled out of respect for those affected by this tragedy. The Company was unable to stop only one postal promotion which had already been sent to some customers at the end of December.
Costa Cruises is incredulous at the disgraceful and unfounded assertions made about the Company without any form of verification.

Time 9.30 am (CET)
Costa Cruises clarifies that the company has extremely strict systems in place to control access to ships, in addition to the port area access controls performed by the authorities before embarkation.
Access on board is granted only on the basis of:
- a ticket and an identity check for cruise customers;
- an optically read ID card for crew members;
- the entry of the person’s name on the visitor list, after approval by the Company and the Staff Captain, in addition to the presentation of a valid identity document which is retained on embarkation.
The name of any person who departs with the ship is registered in on board systems. In addition, a photograph is taken of passengers on embarkation, which is then associated with an ID bar code found on the embarkation form and the Costa Card given to passengers when on board (this card acts as each passenger’s personal identification badge for entering and leaving the ship and for making use of on board services).
No one on board has the power to waive security procedures. The company takes severe disciplinary action in the event of violation.
Precise lists of every person embarked on the ship and who departed with it (guests, crew and any engineers) are transmitted to the Company immediately after departure.
In the case of the accident involving the Costa Concordia, these precise lists have been given to the authorities in relation to operations to identify the survivors, victims and missing.
Furthermore, the company categorically denies the rumour that there were “clandestine workers” on board.
Costa Cruises applies the highest possible standards of security, safety and social accountability. The company is certified as regards social accountability (SA 8000) and safety (OHSAS 18001) by RINA in the framework of BEST4 certification, which also covers the environment and quality, and is subject to inspections by the certification society and the maritime authorities in Italy and in the countries visited by its ships.

Monday, January 23rd 2012

Time 12.30 pm (CET)
These days, we are receiving many messages of condolence for the victims and their families as well as many expressions of appreciation for the professionalism and competence of our crew. The Company shares the mourning and it is grateful to each demonstration of solidarity to men and women of Costa Crociere. Your expressions of closeness are really precious in such a delicate moment. Your demonstrations are touching, and they encourage us to do more to continue to deserve the trust you are granting us.

Wednesday, January 18th 2012

Time 9.15 pm (CET)
コスタ・クルーズでは、今回の悲惨な事故の際にコスタ・コンコルディアにご搭乗いただいていたゲストの皆様全員に連絡を差し上げ、無事にご帰宅されたかどうかのご確認、および、クルーズと関連全物資にまつわる経費を返金する予定であることのご確認をさせていただいております。コスタ・クロチエレでは、各国のツアー会社協会の支援を受けて、忍びがたい苦難に対する賠償金を算出するために、ゲストと全ての消費者保護組織に連絡していることも、繰り返しお伝えいたします。コスタ・クルーズは、毎日注力している安全への絶え間ない努力と配慮、および60年以上にわたり実行し続けていた通りに、会社の最重要資産とみなしているゲストとの関係への献身という、双方を確認しています。コスタ・クルーズは、犠牲者の方々への心からのお悔やみと、ご遺族の皆様への支援を、改めまして表明させていただきます。

Time 7.45 pm (CET)
コスタ・クルーズにとって環境保護は、企業事業方針に不可欠な部分であり、最も厳格な国際認証（UNIEN ISO 14001）の取得によって、それを証明しています。そのため当社では、海洋環境保護に関連する課題への迅速な処理の必要性を、即座に理解しました。
その結果、事故直後の数時間中に、コスタ・クルーズは世界一流の海難救助専門業者であるSmith Salvage BVに、コスタ・コンコルディアから予備燃料を回収するための計画策定を依頼しました。依頼当初から、この計画は所管当局と共有されており、彼らとの全面的な協力の結果として、今週終わりまでには遂行される予定です。

Time 0.01 am (CET)
懸命の救助・捜索活動により、新たに被害者に合われた方が発見され、ご家族ご友人の方々に我々の衷心よりお見舞い申し上げます。
私共は、現在もレスキュー隊や関係各所と協力し、未だに発見されていないお客様及び乗務員を一人でも多くの救助する事と、環境保護への努力をしています。
また、救助活動を継続する一方、被害にあわれた総ての方々や、そのご家族にご連絡させていただくよう活動しております。.

Sunday, January 15th 2012

Time 8.15 pm (CET)
今回被害にあわれた方々に心よりお見舞い申し上げます。

事故から４８時間が過ぎ、１１００人以上の乗務員が救助に全力を尽くしています。また事故原因の追究と救助活動、そしてお客様と乗務員全員が無事帰宅できるよう力を注いでいます。我々はすべてのお客様と乗務員の安全確保、船の危機管理、また環境への配慮を考えております。

私たちの最優先事項は、乗客皆様と乗務員の安全、そして環境保護であります。私たちは、世界的に特別海難救助を専門とする会社と協力し、皆様の安全と環境保護のための計画を立ち上げました。また、航行データの残る「ブラックボックス」へのアクセスを検察官に任されたということです。

関係当局と共に明確な原因追究を行っており、当局はキャプテン・フレンチェスコ・スケッティーノによる人為的なミスが原因で深刻な事態を招いたのではないかと暗示しています。船の航路は浅瀬にとても近い場所であり、キャプテンの緊急避難の判断はコスタクルーズの手順に基づいたものではなかったとされています。当局はキャプテンに対して非難を追及しています。キャプテン・フランチェスコスケッティーノは２００２年からセーフティーオフィサーとして入社しその後スタッフキャプテンを経て２００６年にはキャプテンに昇格しました。また、乗務員が受ける定期テストをすべてパスしておりました。

我々はこのような非難を重く受け止め、原因の追究にあたりますが、現段階ではコメントを控えさせていただきたく思います。

安全性のバックグラウンド
コスタ社は安全規約に厳しく取り組んでおり、お客様の安全と安心を一番に考えております。すべての乗務員はＢＳＴ（Basic Safety Training）の資格を保持しおり、緊急事態でのお客様の誘導方法の訓練を幾度も行っています。すべての乗務員にルール・責任・義務が任命されており、２週間毎に避難訓練を行います。お客様には、海事法により乗船２４時間以内の避難訓練が義務付けられております。コスタ社はコンピューターシステムを使ってお客様全員の参加・不参加を確認しております。
乗務員は海上保安庁が作成するテストを定期的に受け、独立区分組織のＳＭＳ（Safety Management Systems）を必要とします。船上のライフボードとライフジャケットは、すべてのお客様・乗務員数よりも余分に準備しております。ライフボードは食糧・水・救急セット・シグナルなどが装備されています。電気機器類は船員や認証機関が定期的に点検しています。また、コスタのすべての船はＲＩＮＡ（イタリア船級協会）によって保障されています。

Saturday, January 14th 2012

5:30pm（中央ヨーロッパ時間）