Discovery US examines Costa Concordia disaster

MUMBAI: For the 4,200 passengers on board the Costa Concordia, the events of 13 January were all too real and terrifying. Now, US infotainment broadcaster Discovery Channel will dissect the anatomy of this devastating disaster at sea in a world premiere special airing this year.

What happened at the time of the accident? Just what role did Captain Francesco Schettino play? How did the crew evacuate the ship? What are the mechanics of searching the site while safeguarding the waters against environmental damage? And what lies next for the massive, unprecedented salvage mission? Discovery goes beyond the breaking news and current headlines exploring whether salvage teams will even be able to save the ship and successfully dismantle its once mighty hull and frame.

Only hours after leaving port in Civitavecchia, outside of Rome, the luxury cruiseship ran aground just off Giglio Island. With 11 confirmed dead and 23 passengers still missing, the Costa Concordia is a huge human disaster but in the months ahead it will be marked by epic engineering challenges. Discovery crews will be covering the teams charged with figuring out a way to salvage a shipping vessel larger than the Titanic.

Discovery Channel executive VP production and development Nancy Daniels said, "The world has been horrified and captivated by the real life drama of the Costa Concordia disaster. With so many unanswered questions, Discovery will piece together not only the immediate events but the bigger story of what comes next in recovery and restoration".