Two images confront us. One is the courageous sea captain, battling the elements amid misfortune, determined to go down with the ship because that’s his responsibility.

Then there’s Capt. Francesco Schettino, who appears to be the opposite.

Many things have changed over the centuries, but the role of sea captain isn’t among them. He has full command and ultimate authority over his vessel and all who sail on it.

Schettino’s last posting was as captain of the Costa Concordia, a cruise ship carrying 4,200 vacationers on a Mediterranean loop from Rome. Schettino, 52, deviated from his programmed path to order a risky, unauthorized pass of the Tuscan island of Giglio.

The Concordia struck a reef, ripping a hole in the massive cruise liner. Passengers describe a panicked rush to the lifeboats as the ship listed. Schettino would insist that he stayed aboard until all passengers were safely away, which a tape of his conversation with a coast guard officer would disprove.

Italian coast guard Capt. Gregorio De Falco demanded that Schettino return to his post to supervise the evacuation. Schettino resisted repeated orders to go back. He had no idea whether anyone had died. As of Friday, 11 people have been confirmed dead.

When he reached shore, Schettino was arrested on charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship. He’s entitled to a presumption of innocence, but the evidence is stacked against him.

Emergencies are rare, sinkings even rarer. But when they happen, one person is responsible. When that person fails so spectacularly, people die. The sea did not claim Francesco Schettino, and he must live with that.