Costa Concordia Captain Francesco Schettino publishes memoir dedicated to victims' families

Four months after he was found guilty of causing the shipwreck of the Costa Concordia, in which 32 people were killed, Captain Francesco Schettino is to publish a memoir dedicated to the families of the victims.

The book titled Le Verità Sommerse (Submerged Truth) and written by Italian journalist Vittoriana Abate, features the captain's account of the events that caused the cruise liner to ran aground in January 2012, with some unheard eyewitness accounts and details, the publisher said.

In a move that is likely to outrage some, the volume, which has Schettino's name on the front cover, includes a dedication to those who lost loved ones in the tragedy.

"They are owed the truth more than anyone else," he was quoted as saying in the Italian press.

Abate defended the choice telling IBTimes UK that the book was the result of her investigation, which aimed to shed new light on the disaster, "pursuing the truth" also in the interest of the families of the victims.

In February, 54-year-old Schettino was sentenced to 16 years in jail on a series of charges including manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship by a court in Grosseto, Tuscany. He was not remanded in custody pending appeal.

The captain was nicknamed by Italian media Captain Coward after it emerged he fled the capsizing vessel with hundreds of passengers still on board.

Lawyers for the victims said that although surprising to outsiders, the book dedication is in line with his stance at the trial.

"He has been trying to build bridges with the victims throughout the proceedings," lawyer Cesare Bulgheroni told IBTimes UK.

Later this week Schettino is to attend a book-signing event to present his work in his hometown of Meta di Sorrento, near Naples. The book is already on sale online for little more than €16 (£11, $18).

Abate said the captain is not to receive any money and she has also renounced to her rights on the memoir, devolving all profits "to people in need".

The book contains details of Schettino's life prior to the shipwreck, an account of the night the Costa Concordia hit a reef and capsized off Italy's Giglio Island and a meticulous report of the following trial, publisher Graus Editore said.

Through more than 600-pages Schettino is expected to repeat claims made in court that he was not the sole person responsible for the disaster.

During the trial, prosecutors accused Schettino of being a "reckless idiot" for steering the luxury liner too close to the shores of Giglio Island to perform a sail past salute, eventually hitting a rock.

His lawyers however have argued lives were also lost because of a series of technical deficiencies including a faulty power generator and elevators.

The theory has been embraced by a number of lawyers, including Bulgheroni, who, representing about 100 victims, are seeking to win larger compensation from the cruise liner operator, Costa Crociere.

In February Grosseto judges ordered the company to pay, jointly with Schettino, compensation to the victims of up to €30,000.

The verdict containing reasons for the sentencing is due to be released by the court in July.