Raised wreckage of the Costa Concordia could offer new evidence of helmsman’s error says Captain Schettino’s defence
A panel of judges are allowing for a new forensic examination of the Costa Concordia to be carried out following a lift of the semi-submerged wreckage earlier this year.
Remains of the ship are still situated where the cruise liner hit rocks off the island of Giglio in January, killing 32 people.
The consumer group Codacons and the criminal defence for Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino petitioned for the new survey to be completed.
The Grosseto court ruled new evidence collection was needed as significant areas of the ship had been made available following an operation to lift the semi-submerged wreck in September.
Equipment due to be examined as part of the new survey includes the emergency generator, elevator functions, the state of the ‘zero bridge’ and control room computer equipment.
Codacons filed charges in October stating that the maintenance records for the emergency generator had been tampered with, which could be a possible or secondary cause of the incident.
Codacons said that the new examination aims to establish “an accurate and scientific reconstruction of the helmsman’s error”.
Former captain Francesco Schettino has said the ship’s helmsman is to blame for the wreck as his orders were not properly followed.
Schettino is currently on trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Officials will hold a hearing on January 9th to establish when the wreck can be examined.
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