January 13, 2012 is a date that will forever live in history. It marks the day that the Italian cruise ship, the Costa Concordia, ran aground in Isola del Giglio, Tuscany. Disaster struck when the cruise liner hit a reef while cruising off the Italian coast, causing it to partially sink and eventually capsize. Now, only days later, the incident is already being declared a disaster as more than 4,211 people on board had to be evacuated. Even worse, the ship's collision resulted in at least 64 injuries, three of which were serious, and six fatalities, one of which was a crew member. Almost 30 individuals reported to be onboard the ship when it docked have still yet to be recovered and remain on the liner's list of missing persons.

At the time it commenced cruising in 2006, the Costa Concordia was the largest ship to be built in all of Italy. As it stands, it is the largest passenger shipwreck in history. There are many characteristics of the ship's features and unique aspects of the liner's descent into the ocean that will forever make it a part of the world's history. However, no set of statistics, no group of photos, no news report will ever accurately portray the true catastrophe and sheer devastation that has resulted from the collision and capsizing of the Italian ship. Some things simply cannot be put into words.

What can be said for certain is the facts and circumstances that led up to the cruise ship's demise. The seven day cruise set sail earlier that day in Civitavecchia en route to Savona. Upon embarking, no known reports were made by the cruise ship's captain in regards to mechanical problems; everything seemed to be going smoothly. However, reports do note that the ship was sailing unusually close to hundreds of meters of rocks. More close, in fact, than regular sailing standards would typically allow for; the Costa Concordia appeared to be off course from its original path. It was during the deviation from its pre-planned course that the ship collided with a reef patch ranging approximately 800 meters, which caused a substantially large gash on the port side of the ship. The ship's hull is also reported to have a large rock embedded within it as a result.

Now, investigators are working to uncover what caused the devastation of this accident. Many are speculating that the fault may lie with the cruise ship's captain. Reports are even going so far as to state that a "significant human error on the part of the ship's Master," could have resulted in the severely grave incident. In fact, the captain has been arrested and is now under suspicion for manslaughter – a charge that, if convicted, will no doubt dramatically alter his life. However, one would be hard pressed to argue that his life won't be forever altered the by recent incidence, regardless of the case rulings play out.

Anyone seriously injured in a maritime disaster such as this should contact a law firm who is extremely familiar with maritime law. The maritime attorneys at Arnold & Itkin have handled countless injury cases.

It has taken only a few short days for hundreds of pictures, news stories, and criminal allegations to arise in relation to the Costa Concordia sinking. It has become a media spectacle that many cannot seem to get enough of, and reports continue to feed hungry and inquiring minds. However, we must not forget what is truly at the heart of the matter: a tragic accident that has resulted in personal injuries and wrongful death to too many of the ship's passengers and crewmen. What needs to be remembered is the fact that this was an incident like many in the past (Titanic, RMS Queen Elizabeth, etc.) and will not likely be the last of its kind. Until regulations can be honored and abided by the ship staff, passengers, and companies that regulate cruise liners, we can likely expect more incidents like that of the Costa Concordia tragedy.