SHOMA PATNAIK | NT

PANAJI: It was the scariest experience of their lives, said several of the crew members of the capsized luxury liner, Costa Concordia, which ran aground in Italian waters on January 13. The sailors returned home to Goa on Friday.

Young seafarer, Anthony Joseph Temudo, from Mala-Panaji, said, "Watching a two-year-old child slip into the water is the scene that keeps flashing before my eyes, even now." A staff on duty, he had just finished up for the day and to watch a movie with Pankaj, from Margao. As soon as the accident occurred, both of them ran out of the cabin, even as the whole ship was plunged in darkness.

On deck, the friends watched passengers running, and the life boats being lowered. "There was no word from the captain, who just made one announcement in the beginning," said Anthony, who used his mobile for light. He said he slipped into the sea and swam to safety.

Recounting his ordeal, 22-year-old Daniel Bothelo from Santa Cruz said, "I was on side duty, providing the spot lights for a magic show that was being held for the passengers. Suddenly there was a bang, the power went off and we realised an accident had occurred."

He added, "The scene was like the Titanic, we were forced to jump in the water as the ship had tilted and people were falling off. When we fell into the cold waters, we had to swim fast because the ship was tilting towards us and there was the danger of it falling on us."

As for Concesao Britto Braz from Carmona, who was doing galley duty, the worst thing was watching the "captain and the officers being the first ones to abandon ship." The voyager said that the captain instead of being on the bridge directing the rescue operations had left the ship. This, he said, added to the panic and confusion.

In the opinion of the crew members, the captain’s behaviour was one of the main reasons why the accident was such a disaster. Adds Anthony, "The staff on duty were waiting for some kind of instruction from the captain to act, but I realised something was out of place when I saw officers making arrangements to quietly leave the ship."

Most of the 202 crew members of the liner were on "first time contract" on their first voyage. The captain, Mr Francesco Schettino was an experienced hand and several of the Goan crew had worked with him previously.

Says Anthony, "In my earlier voyages, I found him quite cordial, returning our greetings whenever he passed us by. But this time, he seemed to be curt and
not talking much."