Posted on 01/17/2012 8:45:17 AM PST by Red Badger
GIGLIO, Italy (WLS) - Audio recording of the conversation between Capt. Francesco Schettino and Port Authority officials after the doomed Italian luxury cruise liner Costa Condcordia struck rocks Friday was released Tuesday morning. At least 11 people were killed in the aftermath, according to Italian media, and dozens more are still missing.
The following is a translation of the recording, which was posted on the news website Corriere della Sera:
Captain Schettino: It's Capt. Schettino.
Port Authority: Schettino, listen to me, there are people trapped onboard, now you go back, you will go with your rescue boat under the stern of the ship, there are some steps, you climb those steps and you get onboard and you get back to me letting me know how many people are on board. Is that clear to you? I am actually recording this conversation captain.
[inaudible, captain mumbles]
PA: Speak in a loud voice.
Captain: So, the ship right now [inaudible]...
PA: Speak in a loud voice! Put your hand by the microphone to cover it and speak up! Is that clear?
Voices in the background: "Tell him to come here. Tell him to come here."
Captain: So, right now the ship is tilted…
PA: I understand that. Listen to me, there are people that are getting off using the rope ladder on the stern side, you go back there and you go up that ladder the opposite way, you go onboard the ship and you tell me how many people [are there] And what they need. You tell me if there are children, women or people that need assistance and you give me a number for each one of these categories is that clear? Look Schettino, you may have saved yourself from the sea but will put you through a lot of trouble it will be very bad for you! Get back on board for [expletive]'s sake!!!
Captain: Officer, please.
PA: There are no "pleases"! Get back on board! Please assure me that you are going back on board.
Captain: I am here on the rescue boat. I'm right here, I didn't go anywhere else, I'm here.
PA: What are you doing captain?
Captain: I'm here to coordinate rescue operations.
PA: What are you coordinating? Get back on board and coordinate rescue operations from onboard the ship.
[silence, sound cuts out]
PA: Do you refuse to do that?
Captain: No, I'm not refusing to do that.
PA: Are you refusing to back on board?
Captain: No, I am not refusing to go back. I am not going because the other rescue boat stopped.
PA: Get back on board! This is an order! You don't need to make any other assessment. You have declared that you have abandoned ship, therefore I'm in command. Get back on board right now is that clear?
Captain: Officer…
PA: Can you not hear me?
Captain: I'm getting back on board.
PA: Then go! And call me right away when you are on board. There's my rescuer there.
Captain: Where is your rescuer?
PA: My rescuer is on the stern side, go! There are already bodies, Schettino! Go!
Captain: Officer how many bodies are there?
PA: I don't know. I know about one…I've heard about one, but you must tell me! [expletive]!
Captain: Do you realize it's dark out here and we can't see anything?
PA: What do you want to do? Do you want to go home? It's dark, so you want to go home? Get on the stern of that ship climb the ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people are there and what they need. Right now!
Captain: I'm here with my second officer.
[Schettino identifies second officer.]
PA: You and your second officer must get back on board right now is that clear?
Captain: I just wanted to tell you that the other rescue boat here with other rescuers stopped. It's just stopped. Now I've called the other rescuers.
PA: You've been telling me the same thing for an hour now get back on board! On board! And you get back to me right away telling me how many people are there.
Captain: It's fine officer, I'm going.
PA: Then go, right now!
ABC News Radio contributed to this report.
I’d chain the guy to the rocks overlooking the ship until it is salvaged.
There was a teenage boy on that liner who could have evacuated immediately, but chose to make himself a human ladder for others to crawl over to safety.
If 12 years is truly all Schettino gets, there is no justice in Italy.
This captain deserves what he gets. He will never be allowed back to any water, he’ll be lucky if he is allowed to take a shower.
Captain Joe Hazelwood of the Exxon Valdez is probably the only guy breathing a sigh of relief.
The PA guy should have used the magic words.
Mercy
I have never heard of anything quite like this.
Shame
What magic words?.........
What is it with Italian ship captains?
there was another cruise ship that sunk several years ago and the captain was first off the shop.
Whne questioned he said he told the people to get off. then he left.
this is despicable.
ping
Wow. The port authority guy totally went R. Lee Ermey on Captain Schettino’s ass. That is amazing.
}:-)4
I’m liking the Port Authority guy, I gotta say. Man after my own heart.
Colonel, USAFR
This so-called captain sounds like he’s the President of the Bruce Ismay fanclub. Coward!
It was a simple spelling mistake in the cowardly captain’s name!
Can you imagine the frustration in the Port Authority official? To have such a man as that coward at the scene?
Ping.
unreal
Colonel, USAFR
Me too. Sounds like the kind of guy who worked his way to an unglamorous, hard, thankless job. While the cruise ship captain was able to weasel and brown nose his way to the gravy job.
Can you imagine this guy coordinating offshore rescue ops, instead of from a position where at least a portion of passengers could swim to safety, or could get to safety quickly?
Makes me wonder about the competency of other cruise captains.
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