#CRUISE LINERS - The crew of the Costa Concordia that capsized off the coast of Italy earlier this year have won a prestigious award for their "courage and professionalism" in response to the disaster, as The Irish Times reports.
The Lloyd's List Seafarer of the Year award for 2012 went to the crew of the stricken cruise liner for their actions during the hazardous nighttime evacuation, in which they exhibited "true examples of courage and professionalism".
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an Irish couple were among the thousands rescued from the ship after it ran around in shallow waters off the western Italian coast on Friday 13 January. At least 32 people were reported killed in the tragedy.
The ship's captain Francesco Schettino has been charged with multiple counts of manslaughter, as well as causing the incident and abandoning ship.
In the wake of the Costa Concordia sinking, cruise passengers will now be given extra safety briefings before leaving port under new mandates drawn up by the cruise industry.
The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.
