Costa Concordia capsized with son on board weeks before daughter was cast adrift on sister ship
A British mother has spoken of her disbelief after a cruise ship her daughter is working on was cast adrift weeks after her son survived the capsizing of its sister ship, the Costa Concordia.
Jayne Thomas said Rebecca, 23, a dancer, is one of more than 1,000 people aboard the Costa Allegra, now being towed to safety after breaking down in the Indian Ocean following a fire on board.
She added that her son, James Thomas, 19, also a dancer, was still recovering from the trauma of the Concordia running aground off the Italian coast in January, with the loss of 32 lives.
Speaking from the family home in Sutton Coldfield, Jayne Thomas told the BBC: "I thought it was a one-off and we wouldn't be going through this experience again. I really didn't think disaster could strike twice.
"Of all the ships that are sailing in the ocean, the two that have come into difficulties in the last few weeks have been the two that my children were on." She was waiting to hear from her daughter, who joined the Costa Allegra in May, she said.
The ship was making its way back to Europe, having spent three months in the Indian Ocean, when a fire broke out in the engine room on Monday.
It will be towed directly to the island of Mahé in the Seychelles, the ship's owners said on Tuesday, dropping earlier plans to tow it to Desroches, a smaller island in the archipelago.
Costa Cruises had earlier said the vessel was en route to Desroches, towed by a French fishing vessel that was in the area when the fire left the cruise ship adrift and relying on back up batteries for electricity.
"In view of extensive and accurate checks carried out with local maritime experts' support, in order to ensure the safety of our guests on board, the disembarkation on Desroches island cannot be performed and therefore it has been decided that the ship will be towed to Mahé," the firm said in a statement.
The 28,596-tonne Costa Allegra would not be able to safely moor off Desroches, and accommodation on the island was limited, said the firm.
"It would require an immediate transfer from Desroches to Mahé through ferries after disembarking the ship through tenders," the statement said.
Two tug boats now approaching the vessel will take over the task of towing it to Mahé, where it is expected to arrive on Thursday morning, Costa Cruises said.
Helicopters will supply food, "comfort items" and flashlights to crew and passengers as they undergo a three day towed voyage back to port without full electricity, meaning no air conditioning. A helicopter flying from Mahé arrived at the ship this morning, bringing supplies as well as satellite phones and VHF radios. Passengers were given a cold breakfast.
"The company is sincerely sorry for the inconvenience: absolute priority is to make it as short as possible," the firm said.
Twenty five people died and seven remain missing after a ship operated by the company, the Costa Concordia, capsized after hitting rocks off the coast of Italy in January.
Three Costa Cruises officials who are currently under investigation for their handling of the Costa Concordia incident have been appointed to the emergency response team handling the Costa Allegra, the firm said.
The Costa Allegra's commander, Italian Nicolo Alba, 48, was promoted to captain last year. This was his second cruise as captain.
There are 31 Britons among the passengers and crew on board.