"Sky News has obtained a report and animated reconstruction of the Costa Concordia's final route based on shipping navigational data.
The animation shows the cruise liner hitting an "exposed rock" before continuing on.The report - from professional sources - details the vessel's route, which is superimposed over shipping charts of the area.
One of the images depicts the liner, a "safety contour" outline around the island of Giglio and the heading "struck exposed rock with a speed of 15 knots".
Animation 'shows' Costa Concordia hit 'exposed rock' based on AIS data, obtained by Sky News
The animation based on AIS navigation data shows the ship hitting an "exposed rock"
The report is based on information from the Automatic Identification System (AIS), an automatic tracking system used by vessel traffic services (VTS) to locate and identify ships.
It works by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships and AIS base stations.
Marine radar is the primary method of collision avoidance for water transport, supported by AIS information."
According to a leaked transcript being quoted in the Italian media, Francesco Schettino - who has been put under house arrest - admitted making the mistake that led to the Costa Concordia hitting a rock.
"I was navigating by sight because I knew the depths well and I had done this manoeuvre three or four times," he reportedly said.
But this time
I ordered the turn too late and I ended up in water that was too shallow. I don't know why it happened."http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16152603