Concordia captain attends pre-trial hearing

The captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship arrives in Grosseto, Italy, on Monday.

Fifty-one-year old Francesco Schettino, seen here in a file photo, is set to participate in pre-trial hearings this week, where experts will analyse the events that led to the vessel hitting a rock off the coast of Italy last January, killing 32 people.

Schettino is facing several charges, including multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship.

He will also face survivors of the disaster for the first time.

American lawyers representing cruise ship victims say Schettino made mistakes, but that his company Carnival Corp is also to blame.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN LAWYER, JOHN ARTHUR EAVES, SAYING:

"This captain made a mistake, a horrible mistake, and we are not going to solve any problems, we are not going to save any lives, if we don't change the standards in the entire industry, not just this one captain."

Eight others from Costa Cruises are also being investigated for their roles in the incident.

Meanwhile, salvage operators say the job is slow going and that wintry weather will likely hamper efforts in the next few months.