Costa Cruises has clarified that the company has extremely strict systems in place to control access to ships, in addition to the port area access controls performed by the authorities before embarkation.

Access on board is granted only on the basis of:

•  a ticket and an identity check for cruise customers;

•  an optically read ID card for crew members;

•  the entry of the person’s name on the visitor list, after approval by the Company and the Staff Captain, in addition to the presentation of a valid identity document which is retained on embarkation.

The name of any person who departs with the ship is registered in onboard systems. In addition, a photograph is taken of passengers on embarkation, which is then associated with an ID bar code found on the embarkation form and the Costa Card given to passengers when onboard (this card acts as each passenger’s personal identification badge for entering and leaving the ship and for making use of onboard services).

No one onboard has the power to waive security procedures. The company takes severe disciplinary action in the event of violation.

Precise lists of every person embarked on the ship and who departed with it (guests, crew and any engineers) are transmitted to the Company immediately after departure.

In the case of the accident involving the Costa Concordia, these precise lists have been given to the authorities in relation to operations to identify the survivors, victims and missing.

Furthermore, the company categorically denies the rumor that there were “clandestine workers” on board.

Costa Cruises applies the highest possible standards of security, safety and social accountability. The company is certified as regards social accountability (SA 8000) and safety (OHSAS 18001) by RINA in the framework of BEST4 certification, which also covers the environment and quality, and is subject to inspections by the certification society and the maritime authorities in Italy and in the countries visited by its ships.

The company reiterates, as clarified yesterday, that:

“with reference to the news reported by several media channels today that a company employee has allegedly received the PC belonging to Captain Schettino, Costa Cruises, after contacting the person involved, categorically denies that it has received anything at all from Captain Schettino.”