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ally advised captains to steer their ships
very close to the shore at some key locations – for PR purposes. Costa Cruises
has denied these accusations, and unless
other captains step up to confirm the story, the whole thing will probably become
a non-issue.
Nevertheless, in the digital age, wars
of words can be lost and won in a heartbeat – regardless of whether those words
are true or not. Costa Cruises already received a little taste of this as a story went
out that Costa Cruises had offered a 30 %
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.
This information published by a
newspaper – and reported in various media – was unfounded, as was confirmed by
the very same English passenger who was
ny’s health, environmental, safety, and se-
dent occurred early during “wave season,”
quoted by the newspaper. But the damage
curity practices.
the peak cruise-booking period ( from Jan-
was already done as the story was out and
uary through March.)
talk-show hosts around the world were
Hunn and senior health and safety
talking about Costa Cruises – and not in
executives from each of the lines will re-
Industry experts agree that there may
view all safety and emergency response
be some sort of backlash. For example, Si-
policies and procedures, officer and crew
mon Duvall of SimonCruises.com told USA
Instead of discount deals, Costa
training and evaluation, bridge manage-
Today that it is hard to see the industry not
Cruises is offering a € 11,000 lump-sum
ment and company-wide response and
experiencing at least a small short-term
payment to all passengers, (including non-
support efforts. Hunn will report to the
slowdown from this. Duvall pointed out
paying children) onboard Costa Concor-
Health, Environment, Safety & Security
that the images and stories coming out of
dia during the accident. Costa has also
Committee of the Board, and to Howard
Italy are shocking even to those of us who
pledged not to deduct any amount paid
Frank, vice chairman and chief operations
love cruising and consider it safe – so for
by any insurance policy stipulated by the
officer of Carnival Corporation.
a first-timer this incident could well be a
guests from this sum. From a PR point of
real deal breaker.
view, however, this may be too little, too
In addition, the Health, Environment,
Safety & Security Committee is engaging
Analysts have been sympathetic to
outside industry-leading experts in the
the plight of the industry, since it already
fields of emergency response organisation,
had plenty of problems to contend with –
training and implementation to conduct
from fuel price volatility and capacity ab-
an audit of all of the company’s emergen-
sorption to economic turmoil. Also, while
cy response and safety procedures and to
Carnival will take a dent in its shield, RCCL
conduct a thorough review of the Costa
might be able to escape with its armor in-
Concordia accident. The company-wide
tact. Some experts have also pointed out
initiative will identify lessons learned and
that once the issue is off the headlines in
best practices to further ensure the secu-
the papers, people tend to forget quite
rity and safety of all passengers and crew.
quickly.
GROUND ZERO
HEART OF THE MATTER
What about the impact on the cruise line
Still, the reputation of Costa Cruises is
business itself? It’s too early in the game
clearly on the line, as Francesco Schetti-
to say – but at least a temporary setback in
no, the captain of the unfortunate vessel,
sales is to be expected, given that the acci-
has made claims that the cruise line actu-
a good way.
late.
MORE SKELETONS?
There might be more scandals lurking beneath the surface as well. According to
The Independent, Italian magistrates will
be asked to investigate claims that Costa
Cruises tried to cover up a similar incident
in 2005. At the time, Costa Cruises’ Fortuna allegedly struck rocks near Sorrento.
An official photographer for Costa
Cruises has come forward saying he took
photographs which show the listing cabins and damage to the vessel – but the
pictures were confiscated by company officials.
SAMI J. ANTEROINEN
seatec 1/2012
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