Costa Crociere said it had suspended Captain Francesco Schettino and launched civil action for ‘significant misbehaviour’. Recordings of radio and telephone calls made by Italian coastguards indicate that they were twice assured by the Captain Costa Concordia was suffering from only a “small technical failure”; Schettino also claimed the evacuation was almost complete when it had scarcely begun, and that he abandoned ship long before the last of his passengers. Italian prosecutors allege Captain Francesco Schettino’s failure to accurately brief coast guard officials delayed the rescue effort. Captain Schettino has denied consuming alcohol that night. But a passenger, Angelo Fabbri, has revealed that he watched Schettino enjoying a gourmet meal and drinking red wine at the ship’s most exclusive restaurant, with a “beautiful” woman minutes earlier [Domnica Cermontan, 25, from Moldova]. “Schettino, in a … Read entire article »