Grounded cruise ship 'design flaw'

A new lawsuit over the capsized Costa Concordia cruise ship alleges design flaws hampered its evacuation.

Lawyer John Arthur Eaves says Carnival Corp, its architects and designers, share some of the blame for the 25 deaths in the accident.

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

"We filed a claim against Carnival and against the architects and designers for the propensity of Costa Concordia to roll and list, and because of the maze effect within the vessel."

Salvage teams are preparing to refloat the wreck off the Tuscan island of Giglio.

Eaves says such an operation would be disrespectful to the victims of January's accident.

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

"I think it's a dishonour to the families that lost loved ones and to the people that went through this tragedy to try to refloat a boat, put it back out into commerce, and put other families and other passengers in jeopardy."

Carnival Corp and Italian prosecutors say the ship's captain caused the accident by sailing too close to the shore. He faces a range of charges including manslaughter.

Paul Chapman, Reuters