Cruise boss apologises for sinking (From Daily Echo)

Cruise boss apologises for sinking of Costa Concordia

2:16pm Monday 16th January 2012 in Shipping

The boss of the Italian cruise company which owns the ship which ran aground in the Mediterranean today apologised for the tragedy.

Costa Cruises chairman and chief executive Pier Luigi Foschi spoke as the death toll in the disaster rose to six.

Mr Foschi said: ''We can't deny human error has been identified''.

According to reports the ship's captain Francesco Schettino may have been ''showing off'' when he steered the vessel too close to rocks.

He faces accusations that he abandoned the vessel before ensuring that all of the 4,200 people aboard were safely evacuated after the disaster off the Tuscan coast on Friday night.

It is thought that Capt Schettino sailed as close to land as he did as he wanted to salute to a friend on shore.

Mr Foschi spoke to reporters at a press conference as rescuers still searching for anyone trapped in the vessel reportedly suspended the operation after it started moving.

Mr Foschi said the incident would undoubtedly have a ''negative impact'' on the company's image.

A ''critical analysis'' of security would be carried out, he said.

He said the liner had passed all safety and technical tests in its 2011 evaluation.

Mr Foschi said the company's main concern now was the safety and well-being of the passengers and crew as well as making sure fuel does not leak from the upended hull into the pristine waters off the island of Giglio.