Very sad... and completely avoidable.

This Captain is toast... the 'fly-by' was coordinated on Facebook for
the benefit of the Head Waiter's family... who live on the island.

I'll tell you what... I sure like that Italian Coast Guard
Commander... didn't mix words at all:


The audio was first made available on the website of Corriere della
Sera.

Capt. Gregorio De Falco: This is De Falco speaking from Livorno. Am I
speaking with the commander?

Capt. Francesco Schettino: Yes. Good evening, Cmdr. De Falco.

De Falco: Please tell me your name.

Schettino: I'm Cmdr. Schettino, commander.

De Falco: Schettino? Listen, Schettino. There are people trapped on
board. Now you go with your boat under the prow on the starboard side.
There is a pilot ladder. You will climb that ladder and go on board.
You go on board and then you will tell me how many people there are.
Is that clear? I'm recording this conversation, Cmdr. Schettino...

Schettino: Commander, let me tell you one thing...

De Falco: Speak up! Put your hand in front of the microphone and speak
more loudly, is that clear?

Schettino: In this moment, the boat is tipping...

De Falco: I understand that. Listen, there are people that are coming
down the pilot ladder of the prow. You go up that pilot ladder, get on
that ship and tell me how many people are still on board. And what
they need. Is that clear? You need to tell me if there are children,
women or people in need of assistance. And tell me the exact number of
each of these categories. Is that clear? Listen, Schettino, that you
saved yourself from the sea, but I am going to...really do something
bad to you...I am going to make you pay for this. Go on board,
[expletive]!

Schettino: Commander, please...

De Falco: No, please. You now get up and go on board. They are telling
me that on board there are still...

Schettino: I am here with the rescue boats, I am here, I am not going
anywhere, I am here...

De Falco: What are you doing, commander?

Schettino: I am here to coordinate the rescue...

De Falco: What are you coordinating there? Go on board! Coordinate the
rescue from aboard the ship. Are you refusing?

Schettino: No, I am not refusing.

De Falco: "Are you refusing to go aboard, commander? Can you tell me
the reason why you are not going?

Schettino: I am not going because the other lifeboat is stopped.

De Falco: You go aboard. It is an order. Don't make any more excuses.
You have declared "abandon ship." Now I am in charge. You go on board!
Is that clear? Do you hear me? Go, and call me when you are aboard. My
air rescue crew is there.

Schettino: Where are your rescuers?

De Falco: My air rescue is on the prow. Go. There are already bodies,
Schettino.

Schettino: How many bodies are there?

De Falco: I don't know. I have heard of one. You are the one who has
to tell me how many there are. Christ.

Schettino: But do you realize it is dark and here we can't see
anything...

De Falco: And so what? You want go home, Schettino? It is dark and you
want to go home? Get on that prow of the boat using the pilot ladder
and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what their
needs are. Now!

Schettino: ...I am with my second in command.

De Falco: So both of you go up then ... You and your second go on
board now. Is that clear?

Schettino: Commander, I want to go on board, but it is simply that the
other boat here ... there are other rescuers. It has stopped and is
waiting...

De Falco: It has been an hour that you have been telling me the same
thing. Now, go on board. Go on board! And then tell me immediately how
many people there are there.

Schettino: OK, commander

De Falco: Go, immediately!

jay