Rome ( CNN ) -- The Italian captain of the shipwrecked cruise liner Costa Concordia must remain under house arrest while investigators look into possible charges against him , a court in Florence , Italy , ruled Tuesday , a defense lawyer said . The court rejected a prosecution motion that Francesco Schettino be sent back to jail as well as a defense motion that he be set free , according to lawyer Alessandro Antichi . Schettino 's other attorney , Salvatore Parascandola , called the ruling `` quite positive '' as it rejected the prosecution 's request to send the captain back to jail . When informed of the ruling , Schettino `` maintained his serenity , '' Parascandola said . Attorneys will likely wait until February 9 , when the full text of the court 's decision is published , to decide whether to appeal , Antichi said . The captain faces possible charges of manslaughter , shipwreck and abandoning ship in connection with the January 13 incident . The vessel struck rocks and rolled onto its side in the waters off the Italian island of Giglio . At least 16 people died . Authorities say 16 people remain missing from the roughly 4,200 people who were aboard the ship . Schettino has said managers of the cruise line instructed him to sail close to the island and has denied allegations that he was sailing too fast . He has said the rock the ship struck was not indicated on his charts of the area .
NEW : The ship captain 's lawyer calls house arrest ruling ` ` quite positive '' An Italian court orders the captain of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia to go on house arrest . Prosecutors wanted Francesco Schettino sent back to jail . Defense lawyers wanted him released .