Costa crew honoured for courage

The crew of the Costa Concordia have been awarded the Seafarer Of The Year award at the Lloyds List Global Awards ceremony for “the courage and professionalism” demonstrated when the ship hit rocks and capsized last January.

Thirty-two crew and passengers died in the January 13 wreck off Tuscany, Italy, which has been blamed on the captain for sailing too close to shore in an apparent stunt.

The captain and eight others, including crew and Costa’s crisis coordinator, face possible charges.

The judges for Lloyds List cited the crew for “the genuine examples of bravery and professionalism,” noting that if it had not been for the “skilled response” of the majority of the crew “the loss of life could have been far higher”.

The award was presented at a ceremony in London.