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Shocking new video footage shows how the skipper of the ill-fated Costa Concordia froze after steering his cruise ship on to rocks.

Francesco Schettino, 52 – dubbed Captain Coward for fleeing before all the passengers were off – is seen dithering following last month’s disaster, which claimed 32 lives.

In the astonishing 10 minute film, screened on Italian TV, Schettino is shown speaking by phone on the bridge, illuminated only by emergency lights after the power failed.

But he seems oblivious to the escalating emergency and the danger faced by 4,200 passengers and crew aboard the ship, which had just began a week long Mediterranean cruise. Almost 45 minutes after the ship ran aground off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, an officer is heard shouting: “Captain, the passengers are starting to get into the lifeboats on their own!”

Schettino replies: “Whatever... whatever... ok.”

Another voice says: “There is a gash... water is coming in.” Schettino says: “I’ve spoken to the control room and they say with two compartments flooded we should still float.” It was later revealed six compartments had been breached.

As the minutes tick by, an officer is heard shouting: “What shall we do? What shall we do ?” Someone else cries: “General emergency!” But the order to abandon ship is still not given. Instead Schettino is heard urgently asking for “tug boats”.

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Crew on the bridge shout: “Let’s abandon the ship.” But, crucially, the order is not given to passengers for another 10 minutes.

Italian newspapers have speculated that the damning footage was taken by dancer Domnica Cemortan, 24, who has admitted being in love with the married captain.

Investigators want to know why Schettino, instead of taking charge of the situation, made a series of calls to the ship’s owners Costa Cruises at their base in Genoa.

They also want him to explain how he ended up in a lifeboat while passengers were waiting to be saved. Schettino is being held under house arrest near Naples facing charges of multiple manslaughter.

Pumping operations began yesterday to remove 500,000 gallons of fuel left aboard the ship.