The Costa Concordia disaster was more than one captain’s failure. It exposed weaknesses in deviation control, authority, emergency response, passenger preparation and post-incident care. I also draw on my own experience surviving a fatal boat accident and the safety lessons that stayed with me.

Gerald Hoekstra and Ede Taric survived the initial Rainbow Desert Enduro collision, but not the fire that followed. The coronial findings expose how compliant equipment, unverified escape arrangements and inadequate fire suppression failed when they were needed most.