Costa Cruises has pledged to support the captain of a cruise ship which capsized off Italy this weekend despite pinning much of the blame for the casualty on his shoulders.

CEO Pier Luigi Foschi says the company will help master Francesco Schettino who has been arrested following the Costa Concordia drama and is facing “serious charges”.

Pier Luigi Foschi.

Foschi told a media briefing today: “The company will support him and give him all of the legal help that he needs.”

Schettino