Costa Concordia: new audio recording of officer reporting 'black-out'

[muriel_volestrangler]

A denial, 30 minutes after the collision, that it was more than an electrical problem. Whichever officer this was (if it's not the captain, again) will be in big trouble too.

LIVORNO PORT OFFICIAL: Good evening Costa Concordia. Do you have problems on board?

CONCORDIA: Yes, affirmative, we have a blackout on board. We are checking the situation.

LIVORNO PORT OFFICIAL: Do you need assistance or for the moment are you only staying in the Giglio area?

CONCORDIA: Yes, affirmative, we are staying here in the area to verify the blackout.

LIVORNO PORT OFFICIAL: What type of problem, only generators? Because the Carabinieri of Prato got a call from a relative of a crew member who said that during the dinner everything fell on his head.

CONCORDIA: No, negative, we have a blackout and we are verifying the conditions on board.

LIVORNO PORT OFFICIAL: Yes, since the passengers said you made them put on life jackets, is this correct?

CONCORDIA: I repeat, we are verifying the conditions of the blackout.

LIVORNO PORT OFFICIAL: How long has there been this blackout?

CONCORDIA: Approximately 20 minutes, 20 minutes.

LIVORNO PORT OFFICIAL: OK, we go back on (channel) 16. Keep us informed of the situation.

CONCORDIA: Affirmative, we'll stay on standby on (channel) 16. We'll keep you informed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9025402/Costa-Concordia-new-audio-recording-of-officer-reporting-black-out.html

[originalpckelly]

1. Honestly, why isn't there some system like a fire alarm for hull damage?

Can't wires be placed along the hull of the ship, that when broken, would trip an alarm for the passengers, if a computer determined it would cause severe flooding of the vessel that could not be contained?

I think we have to assume that we can no longer trust the crew of a vessel to protect their passengers after this, especially in a world of such commercialism, where dollars are more valuable than human lives.

How many people would be alive if they had started the evacuation immediately? Done it faster? Done it with better life boats?