Listing Cargo Ship Deliberately Grounded Off the Isle of Wight

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A car transporter ship was deliberately grounded
off the Isle of Wight on Saturday evening after it began to list, the
BBC reports. The Hoegh Osaka had left port in Southampton less than an
hour before.












Two of the 25 safely-rescued crew were taken to the hospital with
minor injuries, Ingar Skiaker, chief executive of Hoegh Autoliners, told the BBC. The ship is now listing at more than 50 degrees.












"Our vessel developed a severe list shortly after she left port and
the pilot and the master took the decision to save the vessel and its
crew by grounding her on the bank," Skiaker said. "This showed great
skill and seamanship on behalf of our crew when faced with such
challenging circumstances."

"Our chief concern now is to ensure there is no environmental damage
from this incident," he added. According to the BBC an official from the
Maritime Coastguard Agency said there was no environmental damage.

The 51,000 ton ship currently also contains 1,400 cars. The BBC
reports that salvage operations are expected to take several days.












[Photo credit: Getty Images]

Two Bodies Found Near Costa Concordia Wreck

A Coast Guard patrols in front of the severely damaged right side of the Costa Concordia cruise ship after it was righted last week.

The remains of two people – presumed to be a missing passenger and crew member from the ill-fated Costa Concordia — have been located by divers near the site of the wrecked cruise liner that was righted last week in a dramatic salvage operation off the Italian coast.

Authorities say DNA tests will be needed to confirm whether the remains are of an Indian waiter, Russel Rebello, and passenger Grazia Trecarichi, of Sicily. The two are the last unaccounted for among the 32 people killed in the Jan. 2012 wreck.

Coast Guard and Customs Service divers found the bodies near the center portion of the ship, where the two were reportedly last seen alive.

The Associated Press quotes Civil Protection chief Franco Gabrielli telling reporters that victims' relatives, who had traveled to the island in hopes their loved ones' remains could be found, were immediately notified of the discovery.

The Costa Concordia's captain, Francesco Schettino, is currently on trial in Italy for manslaughter and abandoning his post during the disaster.