The disgraced captain, who was convicted of manslaughter, wrote a book detailing his version of the story.

What happened to Captain Francesco Schettino after the Costa Concordia disaster?

The disgraced captain, who was convicted of manslaughter, wrote a book detailing his version of the story.

July 14, 2026 1:51 p.m. ET

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Captain Francesco Schettino in 2015; ‘Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea’. Credit:

- The 2012 *Costa Concordia* disaster is the subject of Netflix’s *Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea*.

- Captain Francesco Schettino was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter and other offenses.

- In 2015, he co-authored a book detailing his version of the disaster.

Netflix subscribers have a new documentary obsession with *Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea*.

The streamer’s latest documentary, which debuted on July 10, examines what happened on the fateful night of Jan. 13, 2012, when the Costa Concordia cruise ship struck an underwater rock formation and sank off the coast of Giglio Island, Italy. Captained by Francesco Schettino, the Costa Concordia was carrying more than 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members that night. Using security footage, cellphone videos, and firsthand accounts, the harrowing documentary explores the choices Schettino made leading up to the wreck and in the crucial minutes and hours afterward, when he abandoned the ship.

Thirty-two people died and dozens more were injured in the disaster, which Costa Cruises and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, blamed on Schettino after he deviated from the ship’s approved course for an unauthorized “sail-by salute” of Giglio Island. During his subsequent trial, Schettino admitted that he had made a “judgment error” and that he had been “navigating by sight,” relying on previous experience in the area rather than the ship’s navigation systems.

As several experts interviewed in *Shipwrecked* argue, Schettino wasn’t solely responsible for the disaster, but he was the only person held criminally accountable for it. Here’s everything you need to know about Schettino, and what happened to the disgraced captain after the deadly disaster.

Francesco Schettino was hired by Costa Cruises in 2002

Francesco Schettino in July 2008.

At the time of the Costa Concordia disaster, Schettino was a ship captain with about 30 years of experience. He obtained his long-distance captain’s license in the late ’80s, according to a longtime friend and colleague who spoke with Reuters.

Schettino was hired by Costa Cruises in 2002 and initially worked in security, per the BBC. He was promoted to captain in 2006, when he was assigned to the newly launched Costa Concordia. In *Shipwrecked*, crew members suggest that Schettino was a relatively new and inexperienced captain. One claimed that he confided plans to go fishing when the ship docked, and asked her not to tell anyone because it was against policy.

Schettino veered off course the night of the disaster

The Costa Concordia, as seen in ‘Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea’.

On the night of Jan. 13, 2012, Schettino deviated from the ship’s planned course for a “sail-by salute” — a not uncommon practice in which a cruise ship passes closer to shore to “greet” people on land. According to Manrico Giampedroni, the chief hotel officer interviewed extensively in *Shipwrecked*, Schettino called around 9 p.m. to let him know that he was performing the sail-by as a favor to the head waiter. Giampedroni said that “it sounded a bit unusual, because, as it was night, all dark, there wasn’t much to see.”

Under Schettino’s orders, the crew navigated closer to the island, where the ship struck an underwater rock formation. Within minutes, the chief engineer told Schettino that the ship had been irreparably damaged. In subsequent calls with the Italian Coast Guard, Schettino downplayed the severity of the disaster and the need for assistance.

Water poured into the damaged hull, causing the Costa Concordia to gradually list to starboard. Rather than promptly ordering an evacuation, Schettino’s crew continued to tell panicked and confused passengers that there had been a blackout and that everything was under control.

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By the time Schettino ordered an evacuation, about 70 minutes had passed. International maritime safety regulations require passenger ships to be designed so everyone can be evacuated within 30 minutes of an order to abandon ship. Schettino delayed giving that order, and because the ship had listed so far, it became extremely difficult — if not impossible — to safely evacuate in the lifeboats on the port side.

In addition, CNN reported that about 600 passengers boarded the Costa Concordia after the mandatory safety drill had already taken place, meaning they had not received proper emergency instructions. Meanwhile, Schettino boarded a lifeboat and abandoned the cruise ship. *Shipwrecked* features recordings of calls between the Italian Coast Guard and Schettino, with the former repeatedly ordering the captain to return to the ship and ensure the safe evacuation of everyone on board.

Schettino later claimed that he accidentally fell onto the roof of a lifeboat and was unable to return to the ship, according to transcripts obtained by Reuters.

Schettino was convicted of manslaughter

Francesco Schettino in Rome on July 10, 2014.

Following the disaster, Schettino was charged with multiple manslaughter, causing a maritime accident through negligence, and abandoning his post. The disgraced captain denied criminal responsibility and argued that Costa Cruises was making him a scapegoat. At the end of the 19-month trial, in February 2015, a panel of three Italian judges found Schettino guilty and sentenced him to 16 years in prison — 10 years for manslaughter, five years for causing the shipwreck, and an additional year for abandoning his passengers. According to *The Guardian*, the sentence was 10 years less than what prosecutors had sought.

Schettino was allowed to remain free while pursuing appeals, with *The Guardian* noting that the Italian court system is known for its lengthy appeals process. Ahead of the ruling, the former captain pleaded for leniency and said he had “partly died” the night of the shipwreck. “All the responsibility has been loaded on to me with no respect for the truth,” Schettino added.

According to *The Maritime Executive*, Schettino exhausted his appeals in 2017 and was ordered to surrender to authorities in Rome to begin serving his 16-year sentence.

Costa Cruises and its parent company, Carnival Corporation, agreed to pay a €1 million fine to settle potential charges, thus avoiding a criminal investigation. Five other Costa employees, including Giampedroni, were also convicted of offenses related to the disaster, though none were expected to serve jail time.

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Where is Francesco Schettino now?

Francesco Schettino at an event for his 2015 book.

Schettino began serving his sentence in May 2017. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, Schettino is incarcerated at Rome’s Rebibbia prison.

In 2015, two years before his incarceration, Schettino co-authored a book, *Le Verità Sommerse* (*The Sunken Truths*), with journalist Vittoriana Abbate. In it, he offers his own account of the disaster, arguing that problems with the ship’s generator and watertight doors also contributed to the tragedy.

In January 2025, *The Maritime Executive* reported that Schettino had petitioned the courts for “semi-liberty.” Under Italian law, prisoners who have served at least half their sentence and demonstrated good behavior may be eligible to leave prison during the day for approved work or educational programs.

ANSA reported in April 2025 that Schettino withdrew his request for semi-liberty after he was unable to secure a suitable work placement, a requirement of the program.

Where can I watch Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea?

*Shipwrecked: Nightmare at Sea* is available to stream on Netflix.

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Source: “EW Documentary”