Leg 2 …
The Corcordia strikes the rock cliff at sharp angle on a port wheel and at high rate. The vessel then swings rapidly to port after being hit at the rear of the peripatetic pivot point (PP). The wheel is then transferred over to Stb’d to reduce the swing toward the small port of Giglio. Engine RPM are reduced. As the water rapidly ingress the Engine Room (ER) … Black Out … Emergency Generator On … The only equipments now working are the Navigation and Communications Instruments, Public Address Phone, Emergency Lighting and Ventilation, Emergency Steering System, Watertight Doors, Emergency Ballast Pump, Fire Pump and not much more.
The captain is knocked out, the vessel is blacked out, virtually dead and soon known to be doomed as more than two watertight compartments are flooded. The situation is reported to the Designated Person Ashore (DPA) who calls the Crisis Team. Like a good soldier, Schettino now obey incoming head office advises. No Pan call made that could affect the company reputation, etc. !
The vessel loses its momentum, can now but forget to make her salute at a record close range and swings very easily to Stb’d out of control. The vessel sinks by the stern so the PP slowly moves aft toward that increasing lateral center of resistance. The North-East wind catches the now longer forward turning lever and helps her turning to Stb’d, until the wind impact forces on the sail plan area equilibrates and steady her heading up. The North-West current then catches the port bow. Along with the aid of her momentum combined with the wind and current forces, the resultant COG vector brings the ship toward the island. Since the Ballast Heeling System was previously set to counteract a Port list produced by the North-East wind pushing on the Stb’d sail area, the vessel is now increasingly listing to Stb’d. Flooding Free Surface Effect over large transverse surface not protected by longitudinal bulkheads reduces the Metacentic Height (GM) and thus, the Righting Lever (GZ). The combine capsizing lever from the wind thrust on the Port Side sail area, with the pressure exerted on the Stb’d bilge strakes at grounding, along with an insufficient GZ and at an already Stb’d heel … she lied down on her final wreckage position. Anchors were let go because there is an adage that says; ‘‘Never go aground with an anchor in the pipe’’.
As soon as a report was made from the Engine Room that sea water ingress the vessel, A Pan Call should’ve been transmitted by a delegated officer to alert shore side SAR. Abandoning Ship signal should’ve been sounded to gather all passengers, personnel and not assisting crew to their lifeboat station, donning lifejacket and mustered. Delegated crew members making sure that all souls where assisted, directed and evacuated. Lifeboats should’ve been lowered to embarkation level, boarded and standing by for latecomers and Abandoning Ship verbal order. When report was made that more than 2 watertight compartments were flooding, that all souls were accounted for, that the vessel was making minimum way through the water (and that liferafts were deployed to boarding state from stations not interfering with lifeboats launch), bingo … Mayday Abandoning Ship … except for lifeboat No. 1 ! When all lifeboats were away and to the best knowledge and ability of the master that the ship has been evacuated, there should be a final call; ‘‘Every Man For Himself … to the grace of God’’ ! Then lifeboat No.1 (or a liferaft) is boarded by the Old Man and pulled away. The master does not have to sink with the vessel if he and his second in command are satisfied that she has been professionally evacuated. We don’t have to sink with the vessel to become a Hero or a Saint. But we must remember that the line is very thin between a Hero and a Zero and must assume the consequences thereto !
We realize that it not exactly how the vessel was abandoned. It requires quite a lot of leadership, support and chances that we cannot count on to succeed. But in this case, when Schettino engulfed a massive rock ripping open the hull after a novice eyesight navigation miscalculation and realized the enormity of his blunder … $600,000,000.00usd in the tub … he knocked out ! I think that there should be some specific circumstances where the Second in Command should take over. I would be extremely surprised that he would’ve done worst, actually … impossible ! Unless, he was as frosted since being part of the BMR when the occurrence happened !
Something like that, my English could be better, but you don’t have to agree ! 