The Costa Concordia: Why She Sank


Genre: Documentaries


Duration: 2 x 60


Year of Production: 2021


Production Company: ITN Productions


Broadcaster: Channel 5, UK


Definition: HD


The true story behind one of the biggest maritime disasters since the Titanic

Ten years on from one of the worst maritime disasters in living memory, this fascinating two-part documentary provides a definitive account of the sinking of the Costa Concordia. Combining exclusive first-person testimony from survivors and rescuers with previously unseen footage, graphic reconstruction and expert insight, this series tells the astonishing story of what happened on the night in forensic detail. 

In January 2012, the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground, capsized, and sank in shallow waters after striking a rock off the coast of Tuscany. There were four thousand people on board and while a dramatic rescue mission saved thousands of lives, 32 people would die. Captain Francesco Schettino, who abandoned his ship, was blamed and ultimately found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The cruise ship company, Costa Cruises, was also heavily criticised but did not face criminal charges. So how did the Costa Concordia sink? Was this a tragedy waiting to happen? Should lessons have been learned from previous disasters? And could it happen again?