Ships which do not pass in the night

A really unexpected tragedy is unfolding off the coast of Italy where the cruise liner Costa Concordia has been grounded ashore having struck an underwater barrier. Looks like the crew managed to get the ship aground before it rolled over onto its side, however with three deaths, a number of injured, there are still many people reported missing and possibly trapped in their cabins.
More disconcerting was the fact that with the ship listing so badly the lifeboats on the waterside were heading into the sea whilst the angle of the boat did not allow the launching of the boats on the other side. The Captain and First Officer have apparently been arrested for leaving the ship some four hours the final passenger was taken off. ( sort of reminiscent of the way some of the Italian Officers behaved during the war !!!)

No doubt this will have a bit of an adverse effect on the sales of cruises.
For me, who has a thing about high rise buildings, I also have a thing about ships which sit too high in the water - in this case it may have been fortunate that this happened so near the shore - had it happened in more open seas the death toll might have been horrendous.

I am not sure how this will be categorised by the Insurers - if it was with Lloyd's of London, then I would suspect that tradition would be that the "Bell" would have been rung as happens whenever there is a shipping disaster at sea.

HOWEVER the photos of the helicopter and seaplane were taken in the sky above Hogganfield Loch, Glasgow, this morning - not sure if the seaplane was going to land and disturb the ducks !!!! - or whether it was making for the River Clyde or wherever.