Friday, February 17th 2012
Time 5.30 pm (CET)
With regard to the story uncovered and reported by the Italian TV program “Striscia la Notizia”, regarding an Italian woman who allegedly suffered a miscarriage caused when the Costa Concordia ran aground, the Company has announced that it intends to file a complaint with the legal authorities and that it will take similar action in response to any similar scams or attempts at profiteering in the wake of the Concordia tragedy.
The Company has confirmed that neither the woman nor her husband was on the Costa Concordia's Guest list on January 13.
During the editions broadcast on February 14, 15 and 16, “Striscia la Notizia” discussed the case of a couple of self-styled survivors of the Costa Concordia shipwreck and their lawyer. They have appeared on various TV programs and their story has also received substantial coverage on websites, in newspapers and in agency press releases both in Italy and abroad. Through their lawyer the couple asked Costa Crociere 1 million euros in damages. The woman was purportedly five months' pregnant when she went on the cruise and lost her baby several days after escaping the stranded ship off the coast of the island of Giglio.
“Striscia la Notizia” investigated the claims and discovered that the whole story was in fact made up: the couple were using false identities and neither of them had been on board the Concordia on the day of the shipwreck.
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.
Thursday, February 16th 2012
In response to the decision by the Italian consumer association Codacons to lodge a complaint against the Chairman & CEO of Costa Crociere and other Company executives, reported by the Italian Ansa news agency on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, the Company reserves the right to take any and all steps necessary including any legal action required to protect its reputation and that of its executive officers.
Tuesday, February 14th 2012
Costa Crociere confirms the extension of the terms for the compensation proposal to March 31st 2012.
Such decision has been taken in order to offer all passengers with more time to evaluate the proposal and to exercise their claims with due tranquility. While extending the date for accepting the proposal the Company confirms the simple, effective and easy to redeem compensation package as it was offered from last Jan 27th, 2012.
The extension of the deadline will not have any impact on the claiming process but it is intended to meet the requests expressed by some of our guests.
The compensation package applies only to guests who have returned home.
The families of the victims and those guests who were wounded or permanently injured, will be covered under a separate proposal that will take into account their individual circumstances.
Monday, February 13th 2012
Time 2.30 pm (CET)
This morning at 9.00 am it has been completed the pumping of the 103 m3 of fuel from the first tank of the ship. The pumping operations are now going on with the second tank. Pumping, which was started yesterday afternoon at 5 pm by Neri/ Smit Salvage engineers, is carried on at a speed of 10 m3 per hour, thanks to good weather conditions.
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
