Costa Concordia: Captain Schettino tried to 'impress' Published duration 2 December 2014

image copyright AFP image caption Francesco Schettino's actions have earned him the nickname "Captain Coward" in the Italian media

The captain accused of causing the Costa Concordia disaster says he sailed the cruise ship close to a nearby island to impress passengers.

In his first testimony at his trial, Francesco Schettino said he wanted to give passengers a better view.

Mr Schettino faces charges of manslaughter and dereliction of duty.

Thirty-two people died in January 2012 after the Concordia struck an outcrop of rocks and rolled onto its side near to the holiday island of Giglio.

Mr Schettino denied rumours that he manoeuvred the ship to impress a woman who was at the helm with him at the time.

Instead, he told the court that there were "commercial" reasons behind the move.

image copyright AFP image caption The vessel lay stricken for two years after the disaster before it was towed to Genoa in July to be scrapped

"I wanted to kill three birds with one stone,'' Mr Schettino said, referring to pleasing the passengers, saluting a retired captain who lived on the island, and as a favour to the vessel's head waiter, who was from Giglio.

He said he had often performed so-called "fly-bys" to impress passengers.

It was favourable "from a commercial aspect", Mr Schettino said.

Denial

Mr Schettino is being tried alone after five other defendants reached plea bargains.

The prosecutor said he would request a 20-year prison term for the captain.

image copyright Reuters image caption Francesco Schettino was promoted to captain in 2006

The ship's owners have accused Mr Schettino of making an "unauthorised and unapproved" detour from the Concordia's set route.

He has accepted some responsibility but denies the criminal charges, and says his actions after the ship ran aground prevented a much greater loss of life.

He has blamed members of his own team, including his helmsman, for the crash.

More than 4,000 people were on board when the Concordia hit the rocks.

Mr Schettino was vilified in the Italian press after it emerged he had left the ship shortly after ordering its evacuation with hundreds of people onboard unaccounted for.

His testimony comes a month after the body of the last missing victim was recovered from the wreck of the cruise ship.

media caption This time-lapse footage shows the operation to right the Costa Concordia

Costa Concordia disaster

image copyright (C) British Broadcasting Corporation

2012

13 Jan: Costa Concordia runs aground

31 Jan: Search for bodies abandoned

22 March: Five more bodies found in wreck

24 March: Fuel removal work completed

21 April: Salvage contract awarded to firms Titan Salvage and Micoperi

15 Oct: Capt Schettino appears at court inquiry

2013

3 Apr: Largest support platform in position

9 July: Captain Schettino goes on trial

20 July: Five senior crew members convicted of manslaughter

17 Sept: Ship rolled upright in 'parbuckling' operation

2014

14 July: Refloating operation begins

27 July: Arrives in Genoa for scrapping