Costa Agrees to Pay $1.3 Million to Settle Concordia Criminal Case

Costa Crociere has agreed to pay $1.3 million in fines to settle potential criminal charges in Italy stemming from the January 2012 Costa Concordia disaster. Reuters reports that both Costa and the Italian prosecution are satisfied with the settlement.

Costa and parent company Carnival Corp., however, still must address lawsuits filed by passengers and crew. Capt. Francesco Schettino, master of Concordia, still faces accusations of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the ship.

The Costa Concordia capsized Jan. 13, 2012, after striking a rock near the island of Giglio off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. Thirty-two people died. Schettino is alleged to have abandoned the ship while passengers and crew members were still trying to escape. The hull remains on its side in the water, with crews working to upright it so it can be towed away; that is expected to take place in late summer.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/costa-agrees-to-pay-13-million-to-settle-concordia-criminal-case.html