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    January 18, 2012

Search Suspended After Overturned Cruise Ship Shifts

   VOA News
   This picture shows a view of the cruise liner Costa Concordia aground
   in front of the harbor of the Isola del Giglio (Giglio island), January
   18, 2012.
   Photo: AFP
   This picture shows a view of the cruise liner Costa Concordia aground
   in front of the harbor of the Isola del Giglio (Giglio island), January
   18, 2012.

   Rescue workers halted their search Wednesday of the Costa Concordia as
   the cruise ship shifted slightly.
   The Costa Concordia hit rocks and capsized off the coast of northern
   Italy late Friday. At least 11 people were killed and 20 are still
   missing. The ship's owners blame the accident on the captain's errors.

   [1]Related - Italian Captain Refused Orders to Return to Ship
   An audio recording released Tuesday of an angry exchange between the
   Italian Coast Guard and the captain of the capsized ship reveals that
   the captain refused orders to get back on his stricken boat.
   Coast Guard Captain Gregory De Falco demanded that Captain Francesco
   Schettino use a ladder to climb back onto the damaged Costa Concordia
   and report how many people were still on board.
   But Schettino responded that he was not going anywhere, complaining
   that it was too dark on the boat. He said he was coordinating the
   rescue from a lifeboat. A furious Captain De Falco bellowed that he was
   now in charge and he ordered Schettino back on the boat - warning him
   that he was "going to pay" for his actions.
   A judge released Schettino from jail Tuesday and placed him under house
   arrest. He faces charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship before all
   the passengers were rescued.

   The owners say he steered too close to shore and made decisions during
   the emergency that did not follow company procedures, which they said
   are based on international standards.
   Officials say that when the ship hit the rocks, passengers were ordered
   to put on life jackets and to board life rafts. However, passengers say
   the ship tilted so sharply and quickly that many lifeboats could not be
   lowered into the water.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Report-Captain-Refused-Orders-to-Return-to-Cruise-Ship-137490803.html