Italy's most hated man: Facebook anger at skipper of doomed cruise liner ...

Mail Online ^ | Jaunary 16, 2012

[PJ-Comix]

After swiftly escaping from the listing liner, Schettino – the Concordia’s skipper for six years – was arrested along with first officer Ciro Ambrosio. The captain was spotted wrapped in a blanket on his way to the shore at around 11.30pm – more than four hours before the evacuation of the vessel was completed and breaking the maritime tradition of remaining with his ship.

He definitely isn't this guy:

[WellyP]

The Captain is responsible for what happens on and to his vessel. NO exceptions.

[DManA]

I see Drudge is now saying 29 missing. That’s a lot of people.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I was referring to the picture that Lx posted of Captain Hazelwood, late of the Exxon Valdez.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Or this guy. Admiral Tom Phillips, Royal Navy, refused to leave his flagship, HMS Prince of Wales and went down with her off Malaysia, the highest ranking Allied officer to be killed in combat during WW2.

[StormEye]

Fleeing an accident and leaving people to drown -- shameful!
Only the one percent, Dem0crat Party elite ruling class is allowed to do that.

[SamAdams76]

I wonder if the main reason the captain fled the ship was that he was drunk and wanted to go someplace to sober up before facing the music - even if it meant passengers had to die. Kind of like what Ted Kennedy did at Chappaquiddick. Only Ted Kennedy had better lawyers and a fawning press corps that was eager to cover up for him.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

And DEFINITELY NOT this guy!

[dfwgator]

I wonder if the main reason the captain fled the ship was that he was drunk and wanted to go someplace to sober up before facing the music - even if it meant passengers had to die. Kind of like what Ted Kennedy did at Chappaquiddick. Only Ted Kennedy had better lawyers and a fawning press corps that was eager to cover up for him.

If he's pictured wearing a neck brace, you'll have your answer.

[luvbach1]

Hooboy. That's the sort of thing that will turn up on the old annual performance review...

Along with taking the time to loot the ship's safe on his way off. Guess he intended an early retirement in the South Seas.

[luvbach1]

Seems like [the captain leaving the ship first is]a new maritime tradition.

One must remember that this is 2012 and not 1912.

[luvbach1]

Pure dumb luck that he didn’t kill a lot of people.

Six dead so far and about 25 missing is a lot.

[Moonman62]

Maybe they can haul it the way they did with the Cole (505 feet long).

[MV=PY]

I haven’t heard that. Link please?

[AlaskaErik]

This reminds me of the cowardly actions of the captain and other officers of the cruise ship Oceanos that sank off the coast of South Africa in the early 90's.

[Chuckster]

Paging Captain Hazelwood!

[Chuckster]

Beat me to it

[MasterGunner01]

When Navy skippers run their ships aground, at least three courts martial are scheduled:

1. Captain — because he's got the sole responsibility for the safety of the ship and crew.
2. Officer of the Deck — because he was approved as capable of this duty by the captain.
3. Navigator — because he's supposed to keep the captain and OOD from running the ship aground.

Commercial vessels are no less strict. The fact remains that the captain of the vessel is ultimately responsible for the safety pf the ship and its passengers. I can predict that this captain's Master's License is going to be history and he will face criminal and civil penalties for his actions (or lack of them).

[MasterGunner01]

When Navy skippers run their ships aground, at least three courts martial are scheduled:

1. Captain — because he's got the sole responsibility for the safety of the ship and crew.
2. Officer of the Deck — because he was approved as capable of this duty by the captain.
3. Navigator — because he's supposed to keep the captain and OOD from running the ship aground.

Commercial vessels are no less strict. The fact remains that the captain of the vessel is ultimately responsible for the safety pf the ship and its passengers. I can predict that this captain's Master's License is going to be history and he will face criminal and civil penalties for his actions (or lack of them).

[Talisker]

A story like this reminds me that I really don’t know how the world REALLY works. For instance, how does a guy like this convince someone to turn over a half a $billion ship to his care? It just boggles my mind.

You know who currently resides in the Oval Office, right?

So what's not to understand about a single ship?