ROME | 
 
 ROME (Reuters) - The captain of the wrecked cruise liner Costa Concordia apologized on Tuesday for the accident in which as many as 32 people died and said he had been distracted when the vast ship struck the rock which holed it. 
 
 In his first full television interview since the accident on January 13, Francesco Schettino acknowledged his responsibility as captain and said he thought constantly about the victims of the disaster. 
 
 "When there's an accident, it's not just the ship that's identified or the company," he told Italy's Canale 5 television, speaking calmly but with a pronounced tic in one eye. "The captain is identified and so it's normal that I should apologize as a representative of this system," he said. 
 
 Schettino, who is charged with multiple manslaughter, causing the accident and abandoning his ship, was speaking after being freed from house arrest last week. 
 
 The Naples-born captain admitted to failing to act decisively enough once it became clear the 144,500 tonne vessel had come too close to the island of Giglio off the Tuscan coast where it ran aground. 
 
 "This was a banal accident in which there was a breakdown in the interaction between human beings and it created misunderstandings and it's for this that there's so much rage," he said. "It was as though there was a blackout in everyone's heads and in the instruments." 
 
 "I blame myself for being distracted," he said but added the actual sailing of the ship was under the command of another officer at the time. 
 
 "At that moment, I went up to the deck and ordered the ship to be put on manual navigation and I didn't have command, that's to say being in charge of sailing the ship, that was the officer," he said. 
 
 Investigators have severely criticized Schettino's handling of the disaster, accusing him of bringing the 290 meter-long vessel too close to shore, delaying evacuation and losing control of the operation during which he abandoned ship before all the 4,200 passengers and crew had left the ship. 
 
 Schettino, who has been held up to abuse and ridicule following the accident, has always acknowledged making mistakes but has said he as not the only one who should be blamed for the tragedy. 
 
 A pre-trial hearing was held in March and investigations also target several other officers and officials of the ships owner, Costa Cruises a unit of the world's largest cruise operator Carnival Corp. 
 
 (Reporting By James Mackenzie; Editing by Andrew Heavens) ||||| Costa Concordia captain 'sorry' for sinking 
 
 Francesco Schettino broke down when asked about the youngest victim of the disaster 
 
 The captain of Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground killing more than 30 people in January, has said he is sorry for the disaster. 
 
 In an interview on Italian TV, Francesco Schettino said he thought constantly about the victims. 
 
 But he insisted others should also share the blame, saying the ship had been under the command of another officer at the time. 
 
 Mr Schettino denies charges including manslaughter and causing a shipwreck. 
 
 The ship struck rocks and capsized near the island of Giglio, off the coast of Tuscany. 
 
 An Italian judge recently lifted Mr Schettino's house arrest, but said he must not leave his hometown, near Naples, while the investigation continues. 
 
 "When there's an accident, it is not just the ship that is identified or the company, the captain is identified and so it's normal that I should apologise as a representative of this system," he told Italy's Canale 5 television. 
 
 The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says that Mr Schettino appeared tense. 
 
 He said he blamed himself for being "distracted" but said he had not been on the bridge when the ship ran aground. 
 
 The Costa Concordia capsized off the coast of Giglio 
 
 "At that moment, I went up to the deck and ordered the ship to be put on manual navigation and I didn't have command, that's to say being in charge of sailing the ship, that was the officer," he said. 
 
 Following the accident there was speculation that the captain had sailed too close to the island because he was trying to show off his seamanship skills to a young woman on the ship's bridge. 
 
 Mr Schettino denied this, and also denied that the woman had been his lover. 
 
 When asked about the youngest passenger who died - a five-year-old girl - he could not answer and broke down. 
 
 In a letter published recently in Italy's La Corriere della Sera newspaper, Mr Schettino argued that he had saved many lives by steering the stricken vessel into shallow water. 
 
 In a phone call recorded during the rescue operation, a local port authority chief Gregorio de Falco can be heard chastising the captain and telling him to get back on board the ship to help stranded passengers. 
 
 Mr Schettino was arrested shortly afterwards. ||||| Was the Captain showing off? Disturbing claim that cruise ship sailed close to rocks to salute a fellow officer on shore 
 
 
 
 Francesco Schettino arrested on suspicion of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship 
 
 Survivors vent fury over fleeing 'Captain Coward' 
 
 Women and children were barged out of way by crewmen during 'Titanic-like' escape 
 
 At least five dead and 15 still missing 
 
 
 
 35 Britons on board reported safe and well 
 
 Rescue divers continue to search submerged parts of ship before bad weather sinks it fully 
 
 Reports Schettino was dining with passengers when the accident happened 
 
 By Nick Pisa and Rebecca Evans 
 
 
 
 Last updated at 1:58 AM on 16th January 2012 
 
 The captain of the ill-fated Costa Concordia was delivering a ‘salute’ to a friend on shore when he sailed into disaster, it was claimed last night. 
 
 
 
 Francesco Schettino, 52, has been arrested on suspicion of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship when the cruise liner ran aground after sustaining a 160ft gash in the port-side hull – leaving at least five dead and 15 missing. 
 
 Italian investigators are working on the theory that the £390million vessel sailed close to the island of Giglio to greet an officer from the Italian merchant navy who was friendly with those on the Concordia. 
 
 
 
 SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO 
 
 Capsizing: Panicked passengers wearing life-jackets assemble to escape from the ship after it ran on to rocks 
 
 Sunk: Rescuers hunt desperately for survivors yesterday as the Costa Concordia remains lying on its side 
 
 'Inept': Costa Concordia Captain Francesco Schettino has been held on suspicion of manslaughter and abandoning his ship Reports in Italy said that investigators had identified the man on shore and he would be questioned as part of the inquiry into the incident. 
 
 Last August the vessel passed close to the island sounding its whistle – prompting the mayor to send a congratulatory email to the captain for providing such a ‘spectacle to tourists’ and ‘fantastic entertainment’. 
 
 Prosecutors described Schettino’s handling of the giant craft as ‘inept’ and he was forced to deny additional damaging claims that he left the ship to save himself, had been spotted in the bar and even raided the safe before leaving. 
 
 The allegations – all of which were denied by his family – led Schettino to be dubbed ‘Captain Coward’ by some of the furious survivors who also accused his senior colleagues of abandoning them. 
 
 One couple, French military officer Ophelie Gondelle and police officer David Du Pays, said they saw the captain in a lifeboat, covered by a blanket, well before all the passengers were off the ship. 
 
 Asked about the suggestion that the captain had abandoned ship, senior prosecutor Francesco Verusio said: ‘Unfortunately, I must confirm that circumstance.’ As an injured crewman and a Korean honeymoon couple were rescued yesterday, 48 hours after the vessel came to grief, it also emerged that: 
 
 ■ Survivors were left to swim for their lives and shin down rope ladders during a terrifying ‘Titanic-like’ escape. They told how women and children were barged out of the way by crewmen heading for the lifeboats. Dramatic evidence: Huge piece of rock from seabed ripped hole in hull of liner when it hit rocks Schettino is taken into custody in Grosseto, Italy 
 
 Lucky to be alive: Newlyweds from South Korea are led to safety by Italian firefighters after rescue workers found them trapped in the partly sunk ship this morning 
 
 Screams: Rescue workers heard the honeymooners screaming and took 90 minutes to free them. The 29-year-old man is pictured getting off a ferry to safety Dry land: Jeong Hye Jim, left, and his wife Kideok Hanmarito talk to the press after they were rescued by Italian emergency services last night ■ Fears grew of an environmental disaster amid claims from the scene that fuel has started leaking from the liner. More... 'Forget women and children first, it was every man for himself': Cruise liner survivors describe nightmare scenes as people fought to escape sinking ship 
 
 So what DID cause the liner to hit the rocks? Human error, electrical failure and uncharted obstruction are all theories to be investigated ■ Rescue divers continue to search submerged parts of the ship before bad weather sinks it fully. The death toll rose to five when two elderly passengers were found in the restaurant. ■ All the 35 British passengers and crew on board have been rescued safely and are uninjured. 
 
 The crash has shocked all those who enjoy the multi-billion-pound cruise industry and believe they are holidaying in absolute safety. 
 
 The Concordia was sailing little more than 300 yards from the rocky coast of Giglio when it should have been at least ten times that distance. 
 
 Underwater: Divers took these pictures of the submerged parts of the stricken cruise ship as they searched amid the wreckage for missing passengers and crew today 
 
 
 
 Worried: Passengers wait to be rescued from the ship. Many reported difficulties in launching the lifeboats as the ship had listed so badly Italian Coast Guard personnel recover the black box from the Costa Condordia cruise ship that ran aground off the west coast of Italy Captain Schettino insisted his charts and navigation system show he was in ‘safe water’ and that the rocks he had hit were unmarked – a claim which amazed locals on Giglio who say the dangers were well known. 
 
 First Officer Ciro Ambrosio was also arrested and detained with Schettino at Porto Santo Stefano on the Italian mainland before being transferred to prison. 
 
 Tuscan chief prosecutor Verusio said the Concordia had ‘very ineptly’ approached the island en route to the port of Savona. The shipping lanes marked on maps plot a course to the west of the island. The Concordia came to grief to the east of Giglio. 
 
 Mr Verusio said the ship had struck a reef on its port side causing it to take in an ‘enormous amount of water in a matter of minutes’. A huge piece of rock remained embedded in the hull. 
 
 'Titanic': The cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people keeled over off the Italian coast near the island of Giglio in Tuscany, Italy Five people have been reported as dead and 15 are still missing following the disaster The cruise ship is seen off the west coast of Italy as boats crowd around and a helicopter hovers above to search for passengers The damage to the vessel can be seen quite clearly Lifeboats are pictured in the foreground. Among the dead was a man around age 65, who officials believe may not have been able to withstand the cold of the sea at night Passengers spoke of having to crawl along near vertical hallways and stairwells to escape the ship as it began to take on more and more water Italian police are conducting two investigations – one into the route the captain took and one into the evacuation of the ship. The 117,000-ton Concordia smashed into rocks two hours into a seven-day Mediterranean cruise as passengers were enjoying dinner at 9.30pm on Friday. 
 
 Schettino, who has worked with Concordia for ten years, called his mother Rosa in Naples at 5am and said: ‘There has been a tragedy but keep calm. I tried to save the passengers. I won’t be able to call you for a while but don’t worry.’ His sister Giulia said: ‘We are keeping calm. Franco is a good captain and he has told the truth.’ 
 
 British dancer Rose Metcalf, who was among the last to be lifted off the ship early on Saturday, said that there was a rumour among staff that the captain had fled with cash. 
 
 At the family home in Wimborne, Dorset, her father Philip, 56, said: ‘Other members of staff said that the captain and possibly his first officer left the ship as soon as it hit the rock. They said the captain emptied the safe and fled with the money. 
 
 ‘She didn’t know if it was true, but if it was she didn’t want him to get away with it. She said that the command structure had broken down and they had to organise the evacuation themselves.’ 
 
 There were also reports that Schettino had been dining with passengers when the accident happened – but the ship’s operating company, Costa Crociere, said he was on the bridge. Last night it was still unclear as to what had caused the stricken ship to capsize. It hit a rocky outlet known as Le Scole, which opened up the port-side hull. 
 
 Fifteen minutes after impact, Schettino gave the order to drop anchor in an attempt to turn the ship around and return as close as possible to Giglio harbour which by now the Concordia had passed. 
 
 
 
 As it carried out the emergency manoeuvre, it sped up the intake of water and led to the ship turning on to its side, finally coming to rest on a rocky shelf. There is also a theory that an electrical fault wiped out the ship’s navigational power and steering control. 
 
 
 
 Survivors vented their anger at the captain yesterday on a message board at their Rome hotel. It had been set up for therapeutic reasons to allow them to display their feelings and give thanks for their rescue. 
 
 
 
 ‘Those captain is crazy lier’ said one angry missive, while another read: ‘Captain is a coward!’ 
 
 
 
 A picture showed a crude image of the Costa Concordia sinking beneath the waves with people in the water and the captain being winched to safety aboard a hovering helicopter with a speech bubble coming out of his mouth saying: ‘I don’t give a s***, people.’ 
 
 
 
 Schettino will be held until next week when a judge will decide whether he should be released or formally arrested. If convicted, he faces a maximum 12 years in jail. 
 
 A woman is cared for by a rescue worker and a child is taken to safety. Thousands of people have been affected by the incident 
 
 
 
 Rescue workers help a woman as she is led to safety at Porto Santo Stefano after being evacuated from the ship 
 
 Passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano 
 
 The evacuees were taking refuge in schools, hotels, and a church on the tiny island of Giglio, a popular holiday isle about 18 miles off Italy's central west coast 
 
 LEVIATHANS THAT PLOUGH THE SEAS 
 
 Owned by giant US cruise line Carnival, the Costa Concordia is the world’s 26th largest passenger ship. 
 
 But despite a 114,500 gross tonnage, 951ft length and a capacity for 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew, she is a relative minnow compared to the two biggest ocean liners, Oasis of the Seas and its sister ship Allure of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International. They displace 225,282 tons each and are 1,187ft long. Each accommodates 6,296 passengers and 2,165 crew. 
 
 Third is the 155,873-ton Norwegian Epic, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, while Queen Mary 2, flagship of Cunard – like P&O also part of Carnival – is seventh at 151,400 tons. 
 
 The top ten liners by size are: 1/2 Allure of the Seas/ Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International. 3 Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line. 4/5 Freedom of the Seas/Liberty of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. 6 Independence of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. 7 Queen Mary 2, Cunard. 8/9 Navigator of the Seas/Mariner of the Seas, Royal Caribbean. 10/11 MSC Fantasia/MSC Splendida, MSC Cruises.
– The captain who was "distracted" when the Costa Concordia sailed smack into a rock finally took to TV yesterday to at last say sorry, though it doesn't sound like the passion quotient was too high. "When there's an accident, it's not just the ship that's identified or the company," said Francesco Schettino according to Reuters, which took note of his "pronounced tic" in one eye. "The captain is identified and so it's normal that I should apologize as a representative of this system." And while he did fault the fact that he was distracted, he pointed out that another officer was sailing the ship at the time of the incident. More not-exactly-heart-wrenching comments: "This was a banal accident in which there was a breakdown in the interaction between human beings ... It was as though there was a blackout in everyone's heads and in the instruments." The BBC notes that he did get choked up at one point, though: When asked about the 5-year-old who was among the more than 30 who died, he was unable to speak. Schettino was released from house arrest last week, but faces multiple manslaughter charges.