According to an Italian news agency, Captain Francesco Schettino abandoned the Costa Concordia more than four hours before the evacuation was complete in spite of being ordered by the Coast Guard to return to his ship. If true, his behaviour is unforgivable. According to the law of the sea – an ancient code of conduct that all sailors are bound by – it is the duty of a ship's captain to remain with a stricken vessel until all the passengers and crew are accounted for. Under no circumstances must he leave the ship before them. (To read more, click here.)
Re: If the captain of the Costa Concordia had been British, would he have abandoned ship?
Posted by Davide M. from Italy on 17-01-2012 20:51:
Dear Mr. Young, I don't know if a British commander would have not abandoned the ship just because birth in Britain. However, I'm sure that if the captain of the Costa Concordia had been British and he had abandoned the ship, no Italian journalist would have written an article like you did. None in Italy would have speculated on a tragedy like you did just to draw the conclusion that Italians are all cowards because of Schettino and British are all braves because of Edward John Smith.
Sincerly
Davide M., Italy (marang.da@gmail.com)
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