Concordia Captain Told Costa Ship Was in Trouble, Corriere Says

Francesco Schettino, captain of the Costa Concordia vessel that ran aground a week ago, told magistrates that he spoke to Costa Crociere SpA 10 times to tell the Carnival Corp. (CCL) unit what had happened, Corriere della Sera reported.

Schettino said he spoke to the person responsible for the crisis unit and asked for helicopters and tugboats because he thought the damage could be repaired, according to the Italian newspaper. He said he started to prepare for an evacuation and didn’t want to cause panic, according to Corriere. Schettino also told magistrates he thought the vessel would be pushed closer to the shore where it would have been easier to disembark, the daily newspaper reported.

Schettino’s lawyer and Grosseto’s prosecutor didn’t answer calls seeking comment. Costa Crociere declined to comment beyond Chairman Pier Luigi Foschi’s remarks made on Italian state television yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Armorel Kenna in Milan at akenna@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Sara Marley at smarley1@bloomberg.net