The Netflix documentary Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea, released on July 10, has stunned viewers by revisiting the 2012 Costa Concordia maritime disaster. The documentary currently tops Netflix's most-watched movies list.
How Many People Died on the Costa Concordia?
On January 13, 2012, over 4,000 people set sail aboard the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia from Civitavecchia, Italy. The ship diverted off course that night when Captain Francesco Schettino decided to perform a sail-by salute past the Tuscan island of Giglio, where a crew member's family lived. During the detour, miscommunications on the bridge caused the liner to hit a rock reef off the coast. The ship began taking on water, and passengers panicked.
Despite the Italian Coast Guard asking if the Concordia needed help, Schettino and the bridge crew minimized the situation, claiming a blackout and declining assistance. Only when the ship began to tilt an hour after impact did Schettino order an evacuation. Only the first wave of lifeboats reached the water before the ship's angle prevented more from launching. After a six-hour rescue operation, 32 people died: 27 passengers and five crew members. A salvage team member also died later from injuries sustained during recovery.
Where Is Francesco Schettino Now?
An investigation revealed that Schettino left the ship prematurely while around 300 passengers were still on board. In 2015, he was convicted of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident, and abandoning ship. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and is currently serving his sentence at Rebibbia Prison in Rome, having exhausted all appeals as of 2017. Last year, Schettino requested 'semi-liberty' to spend part of his days outside prison for work or education, but he withdrew the request several months later.
Other Convictions and Compensation
Five other cruise ship employees were convicted of manslaughter, negligence, and shipwreck but served no prison time. Costa Cruises, the parent company, paid a €1 million corporate fine and avoided a criminal trial. The company also paid settlements to passengers ranging from €11,000 to €92,700; only one-third of surviving passengers accepted the offer.
Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea is available to stream now on Netflix.
