ITALY: Experts have blamed the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship for the disaster in which 32 people died.

They also faulted the crew and ship owner for a series of blunders, delays and security breaches.

The Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized on January 13 off the Tuscan island of Giglio after Captain Francesco Schettino took it off course.

Eight other people are also under investigation, and the court in Grosseto ordered the expert investigation to help it determine which if any should be put on trial. A hearing is scheduled for next month.