An ironic set of circumstances with the cruise ship disasters of Italy’s Costa Concordia and Britain’s Titanic are now in the news. Passengers from the Costa Concordia say the tragedy mirrored the “Titanic” film. A school teacher from Los Angeles, reports the Associated Press, said they had to crawl through stairwells and hallways to get to the lifeboats. Here are a few facts, similarities and comparisons between these grandiose ships.
Costa Concordia Facts and Parallels
* It set sail on Friday, January 13, 2012.
* The ship hit a reef at 9:30 p.m. then went aground and capsized, reports the National Post.
* Concordia was the biggest ship built in Italy.
* During the ship’s christening ceremony in 2006 the champagne bottle didn’t break, which some consider a bad omen.
* It is 952 feet with a top speed of 23 knots.
* Concordia weighs 114,500 tons.
* Passengers report Captain Francesco Verusio abandon the cruise ship.
* On a routine cruise sailed countless times with knowledge of shallow water rocks it still ran aground.
* Scheduled for the following day on Saturday, January 14 was an evacuation drill.
* Concordia had 4,200 passengers on board.
* The captain made an unapproved and unauthorized deviation from its course, reports the BBC News
* Whether you had a $199 cabin or a $3,000 suite you could take advantage of the ship’s amenities of restaurants, bars, spa, gym and theater.
Titanic Facts and Parallels
* On April 15, 2012 will be the 100-year anniversary of this ship’s sinking.
* The ship struck an underwater iceberg in the late evening on April 14, 1912.
* Titanic was the biggest ship built to date in England.
* Oddly this ship was never christened before its maiden voyage in 1912. A christening is to bring it good luck.
* It was 883 feet with a top speed of 23 knots.
* Titanic weighed at 46,328 tons.
* Captain Edward Smith died on board the ship.
* The Titanic was considered unsinkable due to its sheer size.
* A lack of lifeboats and evacuation drills costs lives on board.
* There were a total of 2,207 passengers.
* According to Titanic Facts.com reports of ice floes were present in the waters, yet continued their course of full speed ahead.
* First class and third class were limited by strict standards on what was available by way of amenities. Different classes had their own eating, sitting and recreation areas on the ship.