Costa cruise ship survivors offered $14,000 compensation

Each of the 3,200 passengers aboard Costa Concordia when it collided with rocks in Italy offered $14,000 in compensation

ROME, Italy -- Costa Cruises, the operator of the doomedCosta ConCordiaCruises Ship which capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio on January 13, has offered passengers 11,000 euros ($14,000) each in compensation.

In addition, Costa said it would refund the cost of the cruise as well as medical and transport expenses.

According to reports by Reuters, consumer group Codacons has urged passengers not to accept the compensation offer.

A class-action lawsuit in the U.S., filed by Codacons and two American law firms, demands at least $160,000 for each passenger.

The tragic accident occurred when the cruise ship ran aground off the Italian island of Gilgio on Friday, January 13, with 4,200 people on board.

16 people have been confirmed dead, with at least a further 16 missing.

Captain Francesco Schettino has been blamed for causing the accident. He is under house arrest, accused of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before all passengers were evacuat