The crew of the Costa Concordia, which struck the island Italian island of Giglio on January 13 and capsized, have been collectively awarded the "Seafarer of the Year" award by Lloyd's List, a maritime publication.
In a statement released on Thursday, Lloyd's editors explained that the award -- which is not being shared with the ship's captain, who is currently awaiting trial -- was intended as a tribute to the crew's courage in the wake of the collision.
“When the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck a reef off the island of Giglio on January 13, international attention inevitably focused on the actions of the master," wrote Lloyd's. "What was largely missed in the media storm that ensued were the genuine examples of bravery and professionalism displayed by members of the crew."
Though seamanship and Costa Concordia are hardly synonymous in the public imagination, the vast majority of the ship's crew was not faulted with the accident, which killed as many as 32 people. The death toll, while tragic, is small compared to the potential carnage: 4,229 people were aboard during the crisis.
At 290 meters long, 36 meters wide and 114,500 tonnes, the Costa Concordia may have been the largest ship to ever be wrecked.
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