Costa Concordia crew gets "Seafarer of the Year" award

MILAN The crew of the Costa Concordia has been awarded the "Seafarer of the Year" award at the Lloyds List Global Awards ceremony for "the courage and professionality" demonstrated by crew members when the ship hit rocks and capsized last January.

Thirty-two crew and passengers died in the Jan. 13 wreck off Tuscany, which has been blamed on the captain for sailing too close to shore in an apparent stunt. The captain and eight others, including crew and Costa's crisis coordinator, face possible charges.

The judges for Llloyds List cited the crew for "the genuine examples of bravery and professionalism," noting that if not for the "skilled response" of the majority of the crew "the loss of life could have been far higher."

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The award was presented Wednesday in London.