Costa Concordia versus Titanic

In My Opinion

In the days immediately following the Costa Concordia tragedy, the media has constantly compared it to the sinking of the Titanic.  In reality, the two are significantly different, especially regarding the bravery and character of their respective Captains.  Although maritime accidents are rare, those that do occur underline the vulnerability of ships and their human cargo regardless of the era.  Such calamities also underscore man’s constant battle with nature and its elements, and nature always comes out on top.

Titanic Photo Source: Wikipedia

I have been fascinated by the history of the Titanic, from the laying of her keel in 1909 to its discovery by Bob Ballard and his team in 1985.  To think the most modern ship of the time could sink on her maiden-voyage almost seems like a writer’s imagination gone wild.  The sad reality is that it did happened, and more than 1,500 people died.

In my opinion, there are two primary issues the ships have in common.  First, there were design flaws in both vessels because the architects did not account for the possibility of very long gashes in the haul below the waterline, which affected multiple water-tight compartments.  Both ships were considered unsinkable; however, an iceberg and a huge rock proved otherwise.

Costa Concordia today. Photo source: Wikipedia

The second issue the ships share is human error.  Although no parallel can be drawn between Captain Smith and Captain Schettino regarding character and bravery, the fact remains both men made fatal mistakes that caused the lose of life.  The Titanic was repeatedly warned of icebergs in the area, but continued to steam at full-speed to set a new transatlantic crossing record.  On the other hand, the Captain of the Costa Concordia was guilty of gross negligence, which no doubt can be attributed to his own self-importance and ego.

There are other similarities and differences, which will continue to be analyzed and compared for months, if not years to come.  Obvious differences are the number of lifeboats (the Titanic had only half what was needed for the number of guests and crew onboard), navigational and communicational equipment, and rescue response time.  Nevertheless, In My Opinion the latest and greatest technology or best architects will never compensate for poor judgement and a total disregard for nature and its elements.