4th Year Anniversary of the Costa Concordia Disaster

Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press

Hard to believe it has already been four years since the horrible accident of the Costa Concordia. In this Esquire article, the industrial photographer Jonathon Danko Kieldowski takes us on an eerie journey of what the ship looks like now. It appears to be something right out of a horror movie.

Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press

The recovery process to remove the ship from Giglio Island is considered the most expensive wreck recovery of all time, according to the Esquire article. It sure has a gargoyle-inspired look.

Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press

Now this is a bar I wouldn't want to frequent! God bless those who lost families and friends. The 32 people who died on the Costa Concordia will not be forgotten.

Costa Concordia Revisted July 2014

Costa Concordia July 2014

It has now been over two years since the horrible day when the Costa Concordia went aground on a coral reef at Giglio, Italy. I have reported a few times on the progress of the removal of the cruise ship, and it looks like now it will finally happen.

Costa Concordia divers

This is a link for a video taken yesterday of the condition of the ship, seen by divers.
Costa Concordia July 2014

My heart still goes out to the relatives and friends of the passengers who lost their lives. I also feel very sorry for the residents of the island of Giglio to have to look at this constant reminder of what happened two years ago. And what is happening with the Captain now? Is he still in jail? That I need to look in to and will let you readers know.

Some interior shots from the ship ...

Costa Concordia interior photo

Reception area on Concordia courtesy of Italian Carabinieri

Costa Concordia staircase

Giglio Island: Costa Concordia Update

Costa Concordia January 2012

It is hard to believe it has already been one year and eight months since the horrific accident, where the Costa Concordia cruise ship went down on the Giglio Island reef. Finally this past Tuesday, the company in charge of moving the ship was able to get it upright, in preparation of moving it.

The technique used to turn the ship upright was accomplished by an operation called parbuckling. It was the largest ship to ever have this technique done, and the company who did it must be applauded, as they did a super job. More information on this operation can be found here.

Photo of Giglio Island  before the Costa Concordia accident

I just wonder how and when Giglio Island can return to normal. Maybe normal will be completely different than it was before. Having lived on Cozumel Island for the last thirteen years, I understand that small changes really effect the dynamics of an island, and having a monster cruise ship shipwrecked right off shore is a significant change, not a small one. 

This youtube video starts out showing how really beautiful the ship was. It is kind of frightening that they tell the cruisers that the ship is experiencing electrical problems and all will be well soon. Then the tragedy follows.

God bless those who lost their lives. I only hope for Giglio Island's sake, they can get the ship out of there soon.

Costa Concordia Update: One Year Later

Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters

It has now been a year since the Costa Concordia sunk off the coast of Giglio. It has made this small island of Italy a household name and not in a good way. The cruise liner is still there, not having been floated away yet. Living on the island of Cozumel, I just cannot imagine how our lives would change if one of these giant cruise ships that visit us everyday fell over on its side so close to shore and was still there after a year.

Back in November, a passenger's luggage washed to shore on another island. The crew working to right the ship so they can float it away thinks the piece of luggage had worked free of the ship a bit before it was found. An article about the luggage can be found here.

The good news is that as early as June of 2012, things were returning to normal on the island of Giglio. I have to believe it wasn't really life as they knew it before, but loving and admiring Italy and its people, I am sure they take it in stride and learn to embrace it as they do with everything, both life's tragedies and life's triumphs. If you would like to read more information on Giglio returning to normal, click here.

The projected date for floating away the Costa Concorida wreckage is now scheduled for summer 2013.

Costa Concordia Accident

Bench from Costa Concordia on Giglio beach (Paul Hanna/Reuters)

I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of the people who died from the Costa Concordia accident. I also want to express hope and prayers for those still missing. I could not imagine how hard it would be to be torn away from the ones you love to be put in a life boat, not knowing if or when you will see them again. Thankfully we are now down to 17 unaccounted for.

My prayers and thoughts are with you. I hope the stranded get back home safely.


Update January 20th ... we have heard all kinds of things by now. Costa and Carnival Cruises claim they are not responsible as the Captain made the decision to enter the water by Giglio Island on his own. The Captain appears to have abandoned his ship. I truly believe this accident will change cruising. I know my sense of safety and security is shaken. Never again can we say the Titanic can never happen again. If this accident had occurred in colder waters and further out to sea, I think we would see way more deaths. All of us wait to see what is going to happen. I think all the cruise lines will be forced to keep further away from vulnerable areas like Giglio, which is basically a marine park like Cozumel. Our hearts go out to the families still searching for their missing. 


We had our own tragedy this week in Cozumel. 

Our installer/drapery/upholstery guy lost his wife. She was 26 years old. She got sick and was gone in a month. Our heart goes out to our worker. Sad week all around. Lots of prayers needed.

Satellite image of the Costa Concordia

Now a guy has fallen or jumped and been killed on the Carnival Fantasy. Not a good month for the Carnival Corp.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=4731