An Ounce of Prevention

The “Costa Concordia” Disaster

An Ounce of Prevention - The Costa Concordia Disaster

Facts:• Length – 290 meters (about 970 feet)• Displacement – over 51,000 tons• Capacity – 3,700 passengers; 1,100 crewmembers• Began service – July, 2006• Ran aground off Isla Giglio coast about 22:00 hours

(10 p.m.), local time, on January 13, 2012• 11 known dead (as of Jan. 19); number of missing

unknown, estimated to be 20

Reuters photo

Satellite photo – AP Digital Globe

Associated Press photo

Guardia Costiera / Reuters

Reuters

Hull Damage (Reuters)

Underwater view of hull damage (Guardia Costiera)

Coast Guard diver (Guardia Costiera-Reuters)

An Ounce of Prevention - The Costa Concordia Disaster

Issues:• Ship’s captain accused of deviating from course without

authorization• Captain under house arrest, charged with manslaughter and

leaving his ship (dereliction of duty)• Captains not required to file cruise plans – in contrast, all

pilots/aviators required to file flight plans• Nothing in commercial shipping or cruising like system of air

traffic control, transponders required for airplanes• About 2,500 tons of fuel still on board – no leakage as of

Jan. 20• Question of what to do with CC (scrap or repair) unresolved

An Ounce of Prevention - The Costa Concordia Disaster

What to do now:• Account for missing• Remove fuel• Remove ship – dismantle or repair• Take corrective action• Develop, implement preventive action• Learn from mistakes

An Ounce of Prevention - The Costa Concordia Disaster

Corrective action• Clause 8.5.2 of ISO 9001 (Quality Management

Systems Requirements)• Eliminate the causes of nonconformities to prevent

their recurrence– Ensure the problem doesn’t happen again by removing

root cause(s)– Ex., review company policies and revise where needed;

give CG power, resources to enforce regs. (e.g., evacuation drill prior to departing)

An Ounce of Prevention - The Costa Concordia Disaster

Preventive action• ISO 9001, clause 8.5.3• Eliminate the causes of potential nonconformities to

prevent their occurrence– Ensure the problem doesn’t happen to other ships, crews– Identify weak spots – people, processes, materials– Improve training, hiring practices– Implement technologies (transponders, satellite guidance,

traffic control, etc.)– Add automation, where possible

An Ounce of Prevention - The Costa Concordia Disaster

Are there lessons for small business in this?• Implement best practices – exceed regulations,

industry standards where possible• Correct deficiencies – document processes;

implement procedures (reviewing/revising as needed)

• Design, implement preventive measures when you recognize potential for problem

• Policy – encourage positive behavior (policy usually written in response to problems – “don’t do it any more”)