I was in love with captain – Concordia rep

A CRUISE ship rep who was on the bridge of the doomed liner Concordia has told prosecutors she was in love with its captain.

Domnica Cemortan, 24, was seen dining and drinking with Francesco Schettino, 52, minutes before the ship hit rocks, after he changed course to impress crew with a “sail-by salute”.

Schettino, a married father of one, is under house arrest while charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship when hundreds of people were still in danger are considered.

Ms Cemortan admitted she had been on the bridge and told prosecutors how she had seen Schettino and the rest of the crew react in the minutes after the ship struck the rocks.

She said: “I was on the bridge because I was in love with the captain. I found him charming and fascinating. I was on the bridge as his guest. It’s not right his image is being destroyed.”

Seven Italian survivors have filed an official complaint with prosecutors, claiming they were turned away from lifeboats three times by crew members.

Meanwhile, bad weather has again hampered the search for the missing and delayed the start of the operation to siphon off 500,000 gallons of diesel in the Concordia’s fuel tanks.

NICK PISA