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Salvaging the Costa Concordia Salvaging the Costa Concordia
(2 months later)
Thirty-two passengers and crew members died in the accident, which unfolded just off the small island of Giglio on Italy's west coast on Friday 13 January 2012. On 16 September 2013, after 612 days partially submerged in 50ft (15 metres) of water, the huge vessel was painstakingly hauled upright in the most critical phase of the salvage operation.
Capt Francesco Schettino is believed to have steered the ship too close to shore while trying to show it off to islanders, and hit a rock. A process called "parbuckling" used pulling cables and the weight of water contained in huge metal boxes welded to the ship's sides to roll it upright.
The huge vessel then partially capsized with more than 4,000 people on board. The procedure took 19 hours to complete as pulling jacks applied some 6,000 tonnes of force to dislodge the vessel from the rocky sea bed on the shore of Giglio island.
Eighteen months on work to remove the Concordia's hulk continues apace. The ship is lying in around 50 ft of water, its carcass increasingly rusty. Once the ship had rotated to 25 degrees, no further pulling was required as it continued to rotate under both its own weight, and the weight of water contained in the metal boxes.
Appendages, steel cables and anchor chains have been welded to the hull by the 400-strong salvage crew, who are working round the clock. As daylight broke the scale of damage to the ship's submerged flank - ground into a reef and crushed under the weight of the hull - became clear.
The latest phase of the operation, described by salvagers Titan-Micoperi on their website as 68% complete, will see 11 vast metal containers called caissons welded onto the ship's exposed flank. The ship is now resting on five huge metal platforms, constructed and lowered to the sea bed earlier this year.
These will then be filled with water and help rotate the ship upright. Next phase
The rollover operation itself - known as parbuckling - is expected to take at least two days, as it must be done painstakingly slowly to prevent further damage to the weakened hull. The next phase will see more boxes - known as caissons - attached to the other side to stabilise the ship over the winter months.
More caissons will then be attached to the other side, and water will then be pumped out and replaced with air to give buoyancy, allowing the vessel to be towed away. In spring 2014, water in the caissons will then be pumped out and replaced with air to give buoyancy, allowing the vessel to be finally towed away and scrapped.
One of the project's directors, Franco Porcellacchia, told the BBC: "This is a very delicate and unusual operation. We have no reference here". The salvage operation is estimated to have cost at least 500 million euros (£420m) so far, with some insurance analysts predicting that this could rise.
Earlier this year five huge metal platforms were lowered to the sea bed to cradle the ship's 114,000 tonne bulk once rolled upright. The project has faced delays due to bad weather and difficulties in drilling support structures into the hard granite sea bed.
Prior to this, the salvage team created a "false sea bed" from bags containing special cement to strengthen the sea floor below the support platforms. During the early phases of the operation, there were fears that the wreck could slide into deeper water and sink completely, so divers attached heavy steel anchor cables to stabilise it.
In December 2012, the ship's funnel was removed to allow better access from the right-hand side.
During the early phases of the operation, there were fears that the wreck could slide into deeper water and sink completely, so divers have attached heavy steel anchor cables to stabilise it.
Environmental threatEnvironmental threat
The vessel still contains tonnes of rotting food, furniture, bedding and passengers' belongings, and Franco Porcellacchia told the BBC that the risk of environmental contamination was a big concern. The vessel still contains tonnes of rotting food, furniture, bedding and passengers' belongings, and environmental contamination has been a constant risk during the operation.
"Salvage teams do not have access to the inside, but we are working to prevent any substance from inside leaking. One of the project's directors, Franco Porcellacchia, told the BBC: "This is a very delicate and unusual operation. We have no reference here".
"So far we have recorded no pollution and the situation is being constantly monitored by the authorities.""So far we have recorded no pollution and the situation is being constantly monitored by the authorities."
With the ship considered beyond economic repair, its final destination is expected to be a dry dock in Sicily, where it will be cut up. With the ship considered a write-off, its final destination is expected to be a dry dock in Sicily, where it will be cut up.
"The salvage is a joint venture [between Titan and Micoperi], but that contract is terminated when the ship is raised," Mr Porcellacchia said."The salvage is a joint venture [between Titan and Micoperi], but that contract is terminated when the ship is raised," Mr Porcellacchia said.
"Dismantling it is another ball game"."Dismantling it is another ball game".
Chaotic evacuation
Thirty-two passengers and crew members died in the accident, which unfolded just off Giglio island on Italy's west coast on Friday 13 January 2012.
Capt Francesco Schettino is alleged to have steered the ship too close to shore while trying to show it off to islanders, and hit a rock.
The huge vessel then drifted and partially capsized with more than 4,000 people on board.
The evacuation of the ship was slow and chaotic, with conflicting information passed between the captain, the ship's crew and the coastguard authorities.
The bodies of two people - an Italian passenger and a Filipino crew member - remain unaccounted for.
Schettino has been charged with manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship before passengers were evacuated.
The captain went on trial in July and could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Five other senior crew members were found guilty of manslaughter in July and given sentences of up to two years and 10 months, but may avoid prison due to plea bargains.