Salvage Prep Begins on Costa Concordia
This week marked the commencement of the preliminary salvage work on the semi-submerged Costa Concordia cruise ship. Preparations to refloat the luxury liner – the largest operation of its kind to date – are underway.
A barge has moved next to the wrecked vessel and the ship's radar has been removed from the upper deck. The swimming pool slide and the large yellow funnel will be taken off in coming weeks, states a Reuters news report.
It is crucial to carry out the initial salvage measures before attempting to stabilize the Costa Concordia, but the full operation will begin in coming months.
Titan Salvage, along with Italian firm Micoperi publicly announced a detailed salvage plan about a month ago. The refloat and removal of the now infamous cruise ship will take close to one year and is expected to cost at least $300 million.
Detail of wreck showing rock embedded in the hull, on right.
The plan explains how the vessel is expected to be stabilized by the end of August to prevent it shifting down and plunging into the surrounding marine reserve. Two cranes attached to an underwater platform beside the 126,215 ton ship will then pull it upright, helped by the weight of big water-filled tanks that will be fitted on the part of the ship above water. Once upright, more tanks will be fitted to the other side of the hull. They will then be emptied and filled with air to refloat the huge liner, which will be towed to an Italian port and broken up.
Officials pledge to continue to protect Giglio Island’s tourism economy and its pristine marine environment during the salvage and removal of the Costa Concordia.
The nearly 1,000-foot ship, operated by Carnival Corp's Costa Cruises division, capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio after crashing into rocks on January 13, 2012. At least 30 people died and two are still unaccounted for.
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