Reports indicate that at around 21:30 off the Wild Coast of the Transkei, the Oceanus Cruise ship lost its power following an explosion in the engine room. He immediately ordered an evacuation of all passengers and crew. [3] He was quoted soon after the sinking as saying, "When I order abandon the ship, it doesn't matter what time I leave. He didnt give up though. Ten minutes later, by the surviving operators estimate, he returned and gave them the order to send out a CQD, the universal distress call that was soon replaced with an SOS. But the weather was so bad that the helicopter crew advised against boarding". "[16][19] In 1992, he and five other officers were convicted of negligence by a Greek board of inquiry for fleeing the ship without helping the passengers. What happened to the Italian cruise ship captain? Share; Posted May 23, 2010. Epirotiki Lines had lost two other ships within the three years preceding the sinking: the company's flagship Pegasus only two months before, and MV Jupiter, three years before. In addition to Schettino, Ferrarini and Rusli Bin, the other people who received convictions for their role in the disaster were Cabin Service Director Manrico Giampedroni, First Officer Ciro Ambrosio and Third Officer Silvia Coronica. Usually, there would have been a "sail-away" party on deck with the ship's musicians and British . At about 15:30 the following day, the Oceanos could hold her head up no longer and sank. A more recent example is Robert Royer, the captain of a fishing vessel that sank off Alaska in 2010. The waves reached 14 meters. On the morning of July 12, 1952, Forges Chantiers de la Gironde launched the last of four sister ships in Bordeaux, France, under the name of Jean Laborde. At this stage, eyewitness accounts reveal that many of the crew, including Captain Avranas, were already packed and ready to depart. As provided for by Greek Maritime Law pursuant to Article 223: Captain of non-departures last during the abandonment of a dangerous ship, punishable by imprisonment and penalty of money . [citation needed], Once the engines stopped, the ship began to roll so badly that in the lounge, which is where the passengers had gathered, crockery and cutlery began sliding off the tables and potted plants fell over. If some people like to stay, they can stay.". After Capt. WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO BUSINESS IN NEW YORK, TEXAS AND KENTUCKY ALONG WITH OTHER STATES WHERE WE ARE REGISTERED, EXEMPTED OR EXCLUDED FROM REGISTRATION. The Italian captain went back onboard the wreck for the first time since the sinking of the cruise ship on January 13, 2012, as part of his trial for manslaughter and abandoning ship. The divers had penetrated 70m into the wreck with the aid of the scooters. The chief engineer reported to Captain Avranas that water was entering the hull and flooding the generator room. In the time of need, however, the crew found that everything was useless. Meanwhile the extraction was completely broken, the engine room was filling water and tilting forward the ship. Such callous words were spoken by Yiannis Avranas, captain of the Greek luxury liner Oceanos, which sank off the coast of South Africa in 1991. "[9] They were among the last to be rescued. None of the 571 passengers drowned. At 12:05 a.m. Smith gave orders to uncover the lifeboats and alert the passengers. Epirotiki Line. "In this case there was more than enough time for the moment of panic to pass. From that point on, Smiths activities become more of a blur. Ralph White/Corbis/Getty Images. Her bow hit the sand 92m below the surface, while more than 60m of her stern remained aloft; minutes later, she was gone.
