Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 07:54 AM Jan 2012

An Ill-Omen (Champagne failed to break during christening of Costa Concordia)

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-incidents/cursed-concordia-born-bad-ended-up-worse-20120116-1q1w2.html

Cursed Concordia 'born bad, ended up worse'

If maritime superstitions are to be believed, the Costa Concordia was doomed from the moment it was launched.

When a grand christening ceremony was held in July 2006 in the port of Civitavecchia, the ceremonial champagne bottle failed to smash against the hull of the luxury liner - now on its side in the sea as rescue workers hunt for missing passengers - and wet the bow.

In a video capturing the moment, some among the crowd - which included supermodel Eva Herzigová - can be heard gasping as the bottle is hurled from a height and bounces, unbroken, off the side.

It is a sign some seafarers consider to be a harbinger of bad luck. Ominously, the Titanic was never christened.

"It was born bad and ended up worse," the Italian newspaper Il Giornale pronounced in a headline about Friday's tragedy.
</snip>


(I looked for the video of the christening, but couldn't find it)
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
An Ill-Omen (Champagne failed to break during christening of Costa Concordia) (Original Post) Cooley Hurd Jan 2012 OP
Just give thanks this didn't happen on malaise Jan 2012 #1
or Friday the 13th n/t RainDog Jan 2012 #2
It was Friday 13th...but was it the woman on the bridge? malaise Jan 2012 #3
Check these pics malaise Jan 2012 #4
Thank You very much for pictures :o) opihimoimoi Jan 2012 #5
Boston.com really has some of the best pics malaise Jan 2012 #10
Amazing photos - thanks for the link! Cooley Hurd Jan 2012 #8
And what is the non-breakage rate at christening... JHB Jan 2012 #6
That would be an interesting ratio to know... Cooley Hurd Jan 2012 #9
Maybe she was driving? CanonRay Jan 2012 #7

malaise

(267,784 posts)
3. It was Friday 13th...but was it the woman on the bridge?
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 08:08 AM
Jan 2012
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9024768/Costa-Concordia-investigators-probe-role-of-young-Moldovan-woman-on-cruise-ship.html
<snip>
The 25-year-old blonde, identified as Domnica Cemortan, was invited onto the bridge as the cruise liner sailed perilously close to Giglio, in what was apparently a ‘salute’ to an old friend of the captain’s and a favour to the ship’s head waiter, whose family were from the island.

She was reportedly the guest of one of the ship’s officers and may be the woman that passengers saw drinking and chatting with Capt Francesco Schettino on Friday evening, a few hours before the Costa Concordia ran aground.

Italian judicial authorities, who are investigating the accident and the captain’s conduct, want to interview Ms Cemortan, who according to her Facebook page was born in Chisinau, Moldova, and lives in Bucharest, Romania.

JHB

(37,128 posts)
6. And what is the non-breakage rate at christening...
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 08:31 AM
Jan 2012

...and the relative severe accident rate for ships with breakage vs non-breakage?

 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
9. That would be an interesting ratio to know...
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 06:29 PM
Jan 2012

I know that Titanic had two ill-omens: she wasn't christened when she was launched (in fairness, the White Star Line didn't do the champagne christening for any of it's Olympic class ships, however, only one of the three ships survived a normal lifespan - the Olympic herself); and she was launched without her name on the bow. Both are considered bad luck by mariners.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»An Ill-Omen (Champagne fa...