Costa Concordia Captain: I Regret Nothing

[Meshakhad]

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16531308-former-costa-concordia-captain-i-regret-nothing?lite

NAPLES, Italy -- The former captain of the Costa Concordia cruise liner says he understands why some people "hate" him, but has no regrets about his actions in the aftermath of the shipwreck that left 32 people dead.

Francesco Schettino did not attend the unveiling of memorials in Giglio, Italy, over the weekend as survivors and victims' families marked the one-year anniversary of the accident. Instead, the luxury cruise liner’s former captain was at his home near Naples, where he lives under some court restrictions.

Accused of multiple manslaughter, causing the wreck and abandoning ship, Schettino told NBC News the toughest part of the aftermath of the crash was that people think he did not try to help the situation after he took the ship off course during a sail-by salute of the coast.
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“Everybody believes that I was escaping from the sinking ship,” he said. However, Schettino contended he “tried to make an effort to make sure that I was the last one to leave the ship — from the sinking side."

I still think we ought to keelhaul the bastard.

[kefkaownsall]

Make him walk the plank

[Katsuro]

Did he shout, "YOLO!" before going off course to sail closer to the shore?

[Lt. Fred]

Frankly, I don't mind his post-crash actions. Some people are cowards, that's a personality flaw not a moral crime.

Now, sailing through a million black holes to speed you up- that's a crime, and not just a moral one.

[kefkaownsall]

I do since legally if your ship crashes you are obligated to aid the passengers.

[Jack Mann]

Helping the passengers was part of his duties as captain.  It's something he signed up to do.  This isn't Johnny on the Spot not stepping up, this is a guy who had a specific job he agreed to do and he didn't go through with it.  At that point, yes, it becomes a moral failing, and he's criminally liable for it.

[Katsuro]

Frankly, I don't mind his post-crash actions. Some people are cowards, that's a personality flaw not a moral crime.

In this case it is a legal crime. If I remember correctly crew members (particularly high ranking ones) evacuating themselves without first attempting to evacuate passengers is a crime in a hell of a lot of countries and I'm pretty certain people have gone to prison for it.

And I agree with previous posters, it is a moral crime. You're the captain, it's you are responsible for the saftey of the passengers. It's part of the job. If you're a coward then don't sign up for jobs where you are personally responsible for other people's lives.

[Yaezakura]

Yeah. I have to agree with the others. A ship's captain is responsible for the safety of their passengers. Both legally and morally. While "suicidal" isn't needed, a captain must be prepared to put the lives of every single person aboard his ship above their own.

No matter what member of the crew makes the mistake, it is ultimately the captain's responsibility if a ship goes off course. No matter who is at the helm, it is the captain's responsibility if a ship crashes. And when lives are lost, it is the captain's responsibility, because he assumed that responsibility when he welcomed those lives aboard his ship. It is an incredibly heavy burden to shoulder, and he has no room to complain when he comes up short. No one forced that role onto him.

[kefkaownsall]

Doubly so when it was his direct orders to showboat that caused the crash.

[Meshakhad]

And therefore, he should be keelhauled.

[ThunderWulf]

Yeah. I have to agree with the others. A ship's captain is responsible for the safety of their passengers. Both legally and morally. While "suicidal" isn't needed, a captain must be prepared to put the lives of every single person aboard his ship above their own.

No matter what member of the crew makes the mistake, it is ultimately the captain's responsibility if a ship goes off course. No matter who is at the helm, it is the captain's responsibility if a ship crashes. And when lives are lost, it is the captain's responsibility, because he assumed that responsibility when he welcomed those lives aboard his ship. It is an incredibly heavy burden to shoulder, and he has no room to complain when he comes up short. No one forced that role onto him.

This, so hard.  He was the CAPTAIN of the ship and knew damn well what the details of said job were, on top of being the one who ordered the showboating that caused the crash like Kefka said.