Costa Concordia captain says he was distracted by phone conversation

(ROME) — The captain of Costa Concordia has apologized for the accident and said he wasn't on the bridge when it struck a rock near the island of Giglio, the UK's Telegraph newspaper reported. The captain said that he was distracted by a phone conversation with a retired captain on Giglio, and the ship's navigation officer was in command on the bridge at the moment of the accident. The captain made his comments in an Italian television interview after a judge freed him from house arrest this week.

 

Click here to view the newspaper's story and photos.

Click here to view a video of the TV interview, with English subtitles.

By Professional Mariner Staff