 later raised and towed to Aliağa, Turkey to be scrapped. The sinking of the Moby Prince was the worst disaster for the Italian merchant marine since the end of World War II.

Causes

Fog
Among the officially accepted causes of the disaster, fog played the leading role. Judges confirmed that a natural phenomenon called advection fog (a quick buildup of thick fog in a small area caused by hot, moist air reaching the cold sea surface) was experienced that evening in the zone around the Agip Abruzzo, preventing the Moby Prince from spotting the tanker. Several qualified witnesses, including officers from the nearby Naval Academy, however, reported that visibility was good and no fog was present. Most of the witnesses referred to the smoke generated after the collision as "fog". 

While this is one of the officially recognised causes of the disaster, many doubts were advanced as to whether the phenomenon had really occurred, especially after an amateur video found in the De Luxe hall was shown on TG1. In the video, weather conditions seem fair. Guardia di Finanza captain Cesare Gentile, commanding a guard ship which joined the first rescue efforts at 22:35, testified that "at the time, the weather was excellent, the sea was calm and visibility was perfect".

Bombing
The judges considered the hypothesis that a bomb aboard the ferry sent it off course, causing it to crash into the tanker. At first this hypothesis was considered likely, but it was quickly dismissed during the trial due to expert and other testimony, especially that of the only survivor.

Traffic
A rumor that the United States and NATO military headquarters had radar reports and satellite photographs of the disaster received widespread attention, but was later denied by the respective commands.

The presence of the bettolina was never confirmed. The tanker commander in the early calls for help confirmed many times that the ship struck a small tugboat, grossly mistaking the real nature of the event. Those calls were undoubtedly influenced by the confusion from the collision and by low visibility caused by the smoke. Some sailors from Agip Abruzzo testified that they saw the silhouette of a ship in the fire, but only a few of them recognized that it could have been a ferry.

Three elements are thought to confirm the presence of a bettolina:
Tank number 6 of the Agip Abruzzo was not correctly sealed, as if it were being loaded or
later raised and towed to Aliağa, Turkey to be scrapped. The sinking of the Moby Prince was the bad catastrophe for the Italian merchant marine since the end of World War II. 

 Causes 

 Fog 
 Among the officially accepted cause of the disaster, fog played the precede character. Judges confirmed that a natural phenomenon called advection daze (a quick buildup of thick fog in a small area caused by blistering, moist air reach the cold sea surface) was experienced that evening in the zone around the Agip Abruzzo, prevent the Moby Prince from spotting the tanker. Several dependent witnesses, including officers from the nearby Naval Academy, however, report that visibility was good and no fog was present. Most of the witnesses referred to the smoke generate after the collision as " fog ". 

 While this is one of the officially recognised causes of the disaster, many doubts were advanced as to whether the phenomenon had really occurred, especially after an amateur video found in the De Luxe hall was shown on TG1. In the video, weather conditions look fair. Guardia di Finanza captain Cesare Gentile, command a guard duty ship which joined the first rescue feat at 22:35, testified that " at the time, the weather was excellent, the sea was calm and visibility was perfect ". 

 Bombing 
 The judge considered the hypothesis that a bomb aboard the ferry sent it off course, causing it to doss into the tanker. At first this hypothesis was considered probable, but it was quickly displace during the test due to expert and other testimony, especially that of the only survivor. 

 Traffic 
 A rumor that the United States and NATO military headquarters had radar reputation and satellite photographs of the disaster received far-flung attention, but was by and by denied by the respective commands. 

 The bearing of the bettolina was never confirmed. The tanker commander in the early calls for help confirm many times that the ship strike a small tugboat, grossly mistaking the veridical nature of the event. Those calls were undoubtedly charm by the confusion from the collision and by abject visibility caused by the pot. Some sailors from Agip Abruzzo testified that they saw the silhouette of a ship in the fire, but only a few of them acknowledge that it could have been a ferry. 

 Three elements are thought to confirm the bearing of a bettolina: 
 Tank number 6 of the Agip Abruzzo was not correctly sealed, as if it were being loaded or
 laher raised and towed to Xliağa, Turkey to be screpped. Tge sinkivg of the Moby Prince was thx woest dusaster for the Italiav merchann marine winct the end of Worlv War II.

Gcuses

Rlg
Ammig the officialky accepteg causes of tha aidaster, fog played the leading role. Tudges vojfirmed that a natlrwl pgvnimenon called advection fog (a quick uuildup of thicl fog in a small area causfd bj hot, moist air rewching the xold wea surface) das experitneed that evgning in the zone around the Agio Abrbzzo, prevenjnbg hve Moby Priice frjm spotting bne tanner. Sevrral qualified wivneswes, including officerv from the nearby Gaval Acagejy, however, reportwd that vishbilkry das gpos and jo hog was preaent. Most od the witnesses reftrrqe to the smoks genewaeed after the collision as "fog". 

While thps ia one of the officially recognised causes of the disafter, many doubts were advanced as to whether the [henojdnou had fwaply occurred, especially after an amateur videj fpukd in the De Luxc hall was shown om HG1. Yn the video, deathex cknditions seem faig. Guardya di Finanza saptsin Cesare Gentile, commandibg a guard skip which joined the yirst rescue effprts st 22:35, testified that "at tke tims, the weathfr was exddllent, the sea wxs balm and visibility was perfece".

Bombing
Tie jubges conrideted the hypothesid thab a bomb aboard the ferri sent it off cokrse, causing it to crash into tix tanker. At forvt nhis hypochesis was considerqd likely, but nt was qbickly dismissed during the trial que to expert wnd other tevtimony, qspexialoy that uf the only sutvivor.

Trayyic
A rumoe that the United Xtajea and NATO miliccri headquarters nad raqag rxportf and satellide pfotubraphr of tht dlsarter received widespread attsntion, but was latrr denied vy the rqspective comkands.

The presence lf thx bettulina waf never confirmed. The tanker ckmmander ln bhe early caljs fir help confnrmed many times that the ship struck a wmall tugboat, groswly mistaking the rgal nature of vhe evqnt. Those calls were undoubteely influenced by the confusion from tge colnisioj and by low visibility caused by the smoke. Some sailors from Agip Abruzzi testmfyed that thsy ssw thv snlhpuette of e rhip in the fire, but only a few of them recognived that id eould have been a ferry.

Three rldments are thuught to confirm the preaence of a bettolina:
Tank number 6 of the Agip Abruzzo was not covrectly swaled, as if it xere being loaded or
later raised and towed to Aliağa, Turkey scrapped. sinking of Moby Prince was Italian marine since the of World War Causes Fog Among the officially accepted of the disaster, fog played the leading role. Judges confirmed that a natural called advection fog (a quick buildup of thick fog in a small area by moist reaching cold sea surface) was experienced that evening in the zone around the Agip Abruzzo, preventing the Prince from spotting the tanker. Several qualified witnesses, officers from the nearby Academy, however, reported that visibility good no fog present. of witnesses referred to smoke generated after the collision as "fog". While this is one of the officially recognised causes of disaster, many advanced as whether phenomenon really occurred, especially amateur video found in the De shown on TG1. In the video, weather conditions fair. Guardia Finanza captain Cesare Gentile, commanding a ship which joined the first rescue efforts at testified that "at the time, the weather was excellent, the sea was calm and visibility Bombing The judges considered hypothesis that a aboard ferry it course, causing to crash into the tanker. At first this hypothesis was considered but it was quickly dismissed during the trial due to other especially that of only survivor. Traffic A that United States and NATO had reports of disaster widespread attention, but was denied by the respective commands. presence of the bettolina commander in the early calls for help confirmed times that the ship struck a small grossly mistaking the real nature of the event. Those calls were undoubtedly by the the collision and by low visibility caused by smoke. Some sailors from Abruzzo testified that they saw the silhouette of a in fire, but a few of recognized that it have been a elements are to the bettolina: Tank number 6 of the Abruzzo not correctly sealed, as if were or
 later raised and towed to AliaĞa, Turkey to Be scrAppEd. THe SinkIng oF the Moby Prince WAs thE worst disaster for the ItAlian MeRChanT MaRine sInce the ENd OF worLd waR II.

caUSeS

Fog
AMonG the offIcially accEptEd Causes of the dISaSter, fog plaYed The leading roLe. JUdges cOnFirMEd thaT a nAturaL phenoMEnon caLled advecTiON fog (a qUIck builDUP oF thiCk fog in a small area CAuSEd by hot, moist aiR reachInG ThE COld Sea Surface) was ExPerieNCed that EVeNING in THe zone around tHe Agip AbruzZO, prEventiNg The mOby PriNce frOm SPotTing the tankEr. SeVeral qualIfied wITnesses, INcludinG officErs FroM the NEaRbY NaVaL acaDEmY, hoWEveR, reporteD tHaT visiBiliTY WAS gooD anD no fOg was Present. Most of The WitnESseS refeRred tO the SmOke geNerateD afteR tHe collision as "foG". 

WhiLe this is oNe oF tHe oFfIcialLY recogNisEd cAuses of The disaSTer, MaNY DOuBts were advanced as tO wHEThEr the pheNomenoN HaD rEAlly occuRrEd, eSpecIALly afTer aN AmAteur vidEo founD In ThE De Luxe HaLl was sHoWn oN TG1. in the VIdeo, WeatheR conditiOns seEM fair. Guardia di fInanza captain cEsARE GENtilE, coMmanding a guArd sHIp whIch jOInEd tHE firsT rescUe EFfORts at 22:35, testified that "aT tHe time, The weAther was excelLent, the sea WAS Calm and vIsibILiTY was perfect".

BomBing
THe judges coNSidered tHe hypOthesis tHat a bomb aBOArd the feRry SenT it Off COUrSe, causing it to CRAsh iNtO the tanKer. at first ThiS hyPotHesIs Was considEred likeLy, BuT iT wAs qUicklY DismisseD dUriNg The Trial DUe to exPert aNd otHeR tEStiMony, espECiALLy thAt Of The oNly SuRvivoR.

TraFFic
a rumor tHat the UniTed sTateS aNd nATO milItary headquarTeRs had radar RePorTs and sATEllite phOtographs of the disaster rECeived wIdeSpreaD attEntion, but Was Later dEniED by the RespecTive cOmManDS.

the prESEnCe oF tHe bettolinA WAs nEver cOnFirmEd. The taNker commander in the EArlY calls for help ConFirmED MaNy tIMeS ThaT tHE shIP Struck a small tugBoat, grosslY mIStAking the reAL naTuRe of the Event. ThOse caLLs were uNdoubtedlY influencEd By thE COnfUsion from tHe collisIon and by lOW visiBIlIty caUseD by the SmOke. some sAilors FRom agip ABruzzo TeStifieD that ThEy saw the Silhouette of a ship in the fIre, but Only a Few Of them recOgnIZed That it couLd haVe been a ferRy.

THreE elemEntS Are thOughT To ConFIrm thE preSEnce of a beTToLinA:
tAnK number 6 of thE aGIp ABruzzO waS Not corRectLy sealed, as if it werE Being loaded or
 later raised and towed to  Aliağa, T urkey  to  be  s crap ped.  The sinking o f  the  Moby Prince was the w orstdi s aste r  f or th e Itali a nm e rch an tmar in e  s incethe  end of  World War  II .
Causes

Fog Am ong the of fic ially accept edcauses  o f t h e dis ast er, f og pla y ed the  leadingro l e. Jud g es conf i r me d th at a natural phen o me n on called adve ctionfo g  ( a qui ckbuildup of  t hickf og in a sm a l l  ar e a caused by h ot, moist a i r r eachin gthe cold s ea su rf a ce)  was experi ence d that ev eningi n the z o ne arou nd the  Ag ipAbru z zo ,pre ve n tin g  t heM oby  Princefr om  spot ting t h e  tan ker . Se veral  qualified wi tne sses ,  in cludi ng of fice rs  from  the n earby  N aval Academy, h owev er, repor ted  t hat  v isibi l ity wa s g ood  and no  fog wa s  pr es e n t .Most of the witnes se s re ferred t o thes mo ke generate daft er t h e  coll isio n  a s "fog".  

Whi l eth is is o ne  of th eoff ici allyr ecog nisedcauses o f the disaster, many doubts were a d va n c ed as t o w hether thephen o meno n ha d  r eal l y occ urred ,e sp e cially after an ama te ur vid eo fo und in the De  Luxe hall w a s shownon T G 1. In the video,weath er conditi o ns seemfair.  Guardia  di Finan z a  captain  Ce sar e G ent i l e,  commanding a g uard  s hip whi chjoinedthe  fi rst  re sc ue effort s at 22: 35 ,te st ifi ed th a t "at th etim e,  th e wea t her wa s exc elle nt ,t hesea was ca l m  and  v is ibil ity  w as pe rfec t ".
Bombin g
The jud ges cons id er ed thehypothesis th at  a bomb ab oa rdthe fe r r y sent i t off course, causing i t  to cra shintothetanker. A t f irst t his hypoth esis w as co ns ide r e d lik e l y,  bu tit was qui c k lydismi ss ed d uring t he trial due to ex p ert  and other te sti mony , es pec i al l y t ha t  of t he only survivo r.

Traffi cA  r umor thatt heUn ited St ates an d NAT O  milita ry headqu arters ha drada r rep orts and s atellite  photogra p hs of th e dis ast er rec ei ved  wide spread att entio n, but  w as lat er de ni ed by th e respective commands.
The p resen ceof the be tto l ina  was neve r co nfirmed. T hetan ker c omm a nderin t h eear l y cal ls f o r help co n fi rme d ma ny times th a t the  ship  st r uck asmal l tugboat, grossl y  mistaking the  rea l nat ure of t he  event. Thosecal ls w ere undo ub tedly influ enced by  t h e con fusion  fromthe col l i si o n andby l owvisibilit y c au s ed by t he  s m oke. S omesa ilorsfrom A g ip A b r uzzo testified t hat t h e y saw the  silh ou ette of a sh ip in thefire, but o nly afewof th em reco gn ized t hat  i t could ha v e been aferry .

Thre eelem ent s arethou g h t toconf ir m t he presen c e  o f  a  b e tto lina :
Tan knumb er 6 of t h e Agip A bru z zo wasno t c o r rectly se a l ed, as ifitwereb e ing loaded or
 later_raised and_towed to Aliağa, Turkey_to be_scrapped._The sinking_of_the Moby Prince_was the worst_disaster for the Italian_merchant marine since_the_end of World War II.

Causes

Fog
Among the officially accepted causes of the disaster, fog played_the_leading role._Judges_confirmed_that a natural phenomenon called_advection fog (a quick buildup_of thick_fog in a small area caused by hot,_moist_air reaching the_cold sea surface) was experienced that evening in the_zone around the Agip Abruzzo, preventing_the Moby Prince_from_spotting_the tanker. Several qualified_witnesses, including officers from the nearby_Naval Academy, however, reported that visibility_was good and no fog was present._Most of the witnesses referred to_the smoke generated after the_collision as_"fog". 

While this is one_of the officially_recognised causes_of the disaster,_many doubts were advanced as to_whether the phenomenon_had really occurred, especially after an_amateur_video found in_the_De_Luxe hall_was shown on_TG1._In the_video,_weather conditions seem fair. Guardia di_Finanza_captain Cesare Gentile, commanding a guard ship_which joined the first_rescue_efforts at 22:35, testified_that "at the time, the_weather was excellent, the sea was_calm and_visibility was_perfect".

Bombing
The judges considered the hypothesis that a bomb aboard the ferry_sent it off course, causing it_to crash into the_tanker. At_first_this hypothesis was_considered_likely, but_it was quickly dismissed during the trial_due to_expert and other testimony, especially that_of the only survivor.

Traffic
A_rumor_that the United States and NATO_military headquarters had radar reports and_satellite photographs of the disaster_received_widespread_attention, but was later denied_by the respective commands.

The presence of_the bettolina was_never confirmed. The tanker commander in the_early_calls for help confirmed many times_that_the ship struck a small tugboat,_grossly_mistaking_the real nature of the_event. Those calls were undoubtedly influenced_by the confusion from the collision and by low_visibility caused by_the smoke. Some sailors from_Agip_Abruzzo_testified that they saw the silhouette of a ship in_the fire,_but only a_few of them recognized that it could have been a_ferry.

Three elements are thought to confirm the_presence of a bettolina:
Tank number 6 of the Agip Abruzzo was_not correctly sealed, as if it were being_loaded or