Concordia Update: Final Tow Chains Attached

Engineers were securing the final chains to the Costa Concordia on Tuesday, preparing the wrecked luxury liner to be towed away from the Italian island of Giglio.

Tweets from The Parbuckling Project, the official Concordia wreck removal project informative website, stated: "Work has proceeded all night, still 4 chains to be connected. #refloating #concordia" and "Phase 1 completed: now working on connecting the last chains #refloating #concordia" one hour apart from each other.

Additionally, an official statement on the website confirmed the operation's progress. "The underwater preliminary activities related to the beginning of the last phase of the refloating operation of the Concordia are in progress today. Technicians are indeed working to connect and tension the last 4 chains and 6 cables. The wreck is stable position and securely moored."

On Monday the operation commenced with air being pumped into 30 sponsons attached around the hull. The air forced water out of the sponsons, lifting the ship 2 meters off the platform. Tugboats then heaved the ship about 30 meters from shore, readying it to be towed north to Genoa to be broken up for scrap.