Compensation for Costa Concordia passengers

The Italian company that owns the Costa Concordia cruise ship which capsized off the coast of Giglio is offering passengers £9,000 in compensation.

The money offered is to make up for lost baggage and psychological damage passengers suffered in the disaster.

The Italian consumer protection agency, Codacons, said that 70 passengers have already joined a class action lawsuit against Costa.

Codacons head Carlo Rienzi stated that the "objective is to get each passenger at least 10,000 euros compensation for material damage and also for... the fear suffered, the holidays ruined and the serious risks endured."

Maritime attorney Jack Hickey told website Cruise Critic that there were likely to be additional lawsuits against the company.

"Civil lawsuits are based on negligence," said Hickey, "and there's no doubt that the negligence is due to the captain -- and of course [Costa] is responsible for the actions of its employee."

"There was a failure of leadership and perhaps of selecting, training and monitoring the right personality to lead," added Hickey.

3,206 passengers and roughly 1,000 crewmembers were onboard when the accident occurred.

At least 13 people have died and at least 60 were injured as a result of the accident.

The deceased include a Spanish man, an Italian, two French passengers, a Peruvian crewmember and an unidentified male.

There are still 19 people missing, which include two Americans.