Here is a translation of the transcript of the conversation between Capt Francesco Schettino, commander of the grounded Costa Concordia, and Capt Gregorio De Falco of the Italian coastguard in Livorno.
In the conversation, Capt De Falco repeatedly orders Capt Schettino to return to the ship to oversee the evacuation, while Capt Schettino resists, making excuses that it is dark and that the ship is listing.
The audio was first made available on the website of Corriere della Sera, and the Italian coastguard confirmed its authenticity Tuesday to the Associated Press.
Capt De Falco: "This is De Falco speaking from Livorno. Am I speaking with the commander?"
Capt Schettino: "Yes. Good evening, Cmdr De Falco."
Capt De Falco: "Please tell me your name."
Capt Schettino: "I'm Cmdr Schettino, commander"
Capt De Falco: "Schettino? Listen Schettino. There are people trapped on board. Now you go with your boat under the prow on the starboard side. There is a pilot ladder. You will climb that ladder and go on board. You go on board and then you will tell me how many people there are. Is that clear? I'm recording this conversation, Cmdr Schettino ..."
Capt Schettino: "Commander, let me tell you one thing ..."
Capt De Falco: "Speak up! Put your hand in front of the microphone and speak more loudly, is that clear?"
Capt Schettino: "In this moment, the boat is tipping ..."
Capt De Falco: "I understand that, listen, there are people that are coming down the pilot ladder of the prow. You go up that pilot ladder, get on that ship and tell me how many people are still on board. And what they need. Is that clear? You need to tell me if there are children, women or people in need of assistance. And tell me the exact number of each of these categories. Is that clear? Listen Schettino, that you saved yourself from the sea, but I am going to ... really do something bad to you ... I am going to make you pay for this. Go on board, (expletive)!"
Capt Schettino: "Commander, please ..."
Capt De Falco: "No, please. You now get up and go on board. They are telling me that on board there are still ..."
Capt Schettino: "I am here with the rescue boats, I am here, I am not going anywhere, I am here ..."
Capt De Falco: "What are you doing, commander?"
Capt Schettino: "I am here to coordinate the rescue ..."
Capt De Falco: "What are you coordinating there? Go on board! Coordinate the rescue from aboard the ship. Are you refusing?"
Capt Schettino: "No, I am not refusing."
Capt De Falco: "Are you refusing to go aboard commander? Can you tell me the reason why you are not going?"
Capt Schettino: "I am not going because the other lifeboat is stopped."
Capt De Falco: "You go aboard. It is an order. Don't make any more excuses. You have declared 'abandon ship.' Now I am in charge. You go on board! Is that clear? Do you hear me? Go, and call me when you are aboard. My air rescue crew is there."
Capt Schettino: "Where are your rescuers?"
Capt De Falco: "My air rescue is on the prow. Go. There are already bodies, Schettino."
Capt Schettino: "How many bodies are there?"
Capt De Falco: "I don't know. I have heard of one. You are the one who has to tell me how many there are. Christ."
Capt Schettino: "But do you realise it is dark and here we can't see anything ..."
Capt De Falco: "And so what? You want go home, Schettino? It is dark and you want to go home? Get on that prow of the boat using the pilot ladder and tell me what can be done, how many people there are and what their needs are. Now!"
Capt Schettino: " ... I am with my second in command."
Capt De Falco: "So both of you go up then ... You and your second go on board now. Is that clear?"
Capt Schettino: "Commander, I want to go on board, but it is simply that the other boat here ... there are other rescuers. It has stopped and is waiting ..."
Capt De Falco: "It has been an hour that you have been telling me the same thing. Now, go on board. Go on board! And then tell me immediately how many people there are there."
Capt Schettino: "OK, commander"
Capt De Falco: "Go, immediately!"
Audio in Italian is available at www.corriere.it
