See subject. Obviously, question prompted by current Italian cruise disaster.
Also, does this apply to other carriers, eg aircraft, or makes distinctions between civilian and non-civilian missions?
The captain, upon involving the coast guard and issuing abandon ship orders, must take orders from the coast guard, which pretty much means he stays with the ship until ordered to do otherwise.
In which country?
Never thought of it.
To answer a question with a question: in national waters (three miles out?) or on high seas (whatever that means 
).
Anyone remember the Jules Feiffer cartoon, Munro, who was drafted at a very young age?
“I’m only four!”
“I’M ONLY FOUR!”
“It is the official policy of army not to draft draft men of four, ergo, you cannot be four, you only think you’re four. Go on sick call.”
In Italy it is, and the captain of that cruise ship is facing twelve years
No, I don’t remember it because when it came out, I WAS ONLY ONE!
Sorry, my post #5 was put in the wrong thread. It’s still funny, tho.
Moreover, if your ship is scraping on the rocks of an island that belongs to Italy, then you are clearly within Italian jurisdiction.
Captain McVay of the USS Indianapolis left the ship before everyone was off, but was acquitted of those particular charges.LINK