Francesco Schettino wants to get out of jail

The captain of the Costa Concordia, the cruise ship that was shipwrecked at his hands in 2016, has applied for early release from his 16-year prison sentence, after eight years in jail.

On 13 January 2012, Schettino decided to deviate from the normal course to sail a “salute” to a relative ashore near the island of Giglio. As they sailed close to the island and Schettino sounded the horn, the Costa Concordia collided with an underwater rock that fatally ripped open the hull and submerged the electrical controls, immediately rendering the ship powerless and adrift. There were 3,200 passengers on board and more than 1,000 crew members. A total of 32 people would die when the ship sank and during a failed evacuation. Schettino, however, blamed faults with the ship, problems with the crew and misunderstanding of commands and other problems, while he was allegedly distracted by other people on the bridge.

Back on board cursed

Schettino left the bridge with other officers. He later claimed he had fallen off the ship or gone to shore to oversee the evacuation. A famous recording surfaced of the coast guard shouting and cursing at him and ordering him back on board the ship. The cruise ship capsized, forcing the passengers to save themselves and climb down over the hull and ladders during a rescue operation organised by the coastguard.
Schettino was sentenced in February 2015 to 16 years in prison for dereliction of duty, multiple manslaughter, causing shipwreck and abandoning his passengers. However, he continued to confidently trumpet his innocence himself, appealing endlessly. When that was exhausted in 2017, he was forced to surrender to prison in Rome.

Mixed reactions

Under Italian law, Schettino applied for early release in a state of “semi-freedom” where he would be out of prison for the rest of his sentence. This is possible after the prisoner has served at least half his time in prison and shown good behaviour.
Italian media report mixed reactions. Protests are expected to intensify ahead of a court hearing. Besides the 32 dead, many people were injured and bear emotional scars from the disaster. It was the largest cruise ship ever lost and led to major changes in the management of the industry. Costa Cruises paid a fine of more than $1 million in addition to settlements with the families and passengers. Carnival Corporation reviewed the management and training of its officers and established a training centre in the Netherlands in 2016.
An Italian court has set a hearing for 4 March to decide whether Schettino will win his release from prison.

Source: Maritime Executive.

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