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| Crews Begin Work to Raise Cruise Ship Off Italy | Crews Begin Work to Raise Cruise Ship Off Italy |
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| GIGLIO, Italy — Engineers began on Monday to coax the battered hull of the cruise ship Costa Concordia away from two granite reefs where it ran aground last year, killing 32 people, in a costly, painstaking and potentially perilous operation to raise the wreck. | GIGLIO, Italy — Engineers began on Monday to coax the battered hull of the cruise ship Costa Concordia away from two granite reefs where it ran aground last year, killing 32 people, in a costly, painstaking and potentially perilous operation to raise the wreck. |
| At midnight, 17 hours after the operation began, engineers announced that the vessel had been rotated 25 degrees from its original position, an “important milestone” for the entire operation, said Franco Porcellacchia, project manager for Costa Cruises, the ship’s operator. | At midnight, 17 hours after the operation began, engineers announced that the vessel had been rotated 25 degrees from its original position, an “important milestone” for the entire operation, said Franco Porcellacchia, project manager for Costa Cruises, the ship’s operator. |
| As parts of the vessel emerged, discolored and rusting, from the waters where the Concordia has languished, listing on its side, engineers said in the late afternoon that the operation might take longer than initially planned. | As parts of the vessel emerged, discolored and rusting, from the waters where the Concordia has languished, listing on its side, engineers said in the late afternoon that the operation might take longer than initially planned. |
| Asked about the timetable, Mr. Porcellacchia told reporters: “I wouldn’t call it a delay. We didn’t make any appointments. We supposed that this incredible operation could take place in 12 hours. It could take 15 or 18 hours. The aim is to do it well.” | Asked about the timetable, Mr. Porcellacchia told reporters: “I wouldn’t call it a delay. We didn’t make any appointments. We supposed that this incredible operation could take place in 12 hours. It could take 15 or 18 hours. The aim is to do it well.” |
| On Monday evening, it was clear that it would take even longer and might not be complete until early Tuesday. Salvage experts have said the dimensions of the stricken 951-foot vessel make the operation unparalleled in the annals of marine salvage, as more than 500 divers, technicians, engineers and biologists prepared the ship for what is known as “parbuckling” to bring it upright and minimize environmental risks to Giglio Island, a marine sanctuary. | On Monday evening, it was clear that it would take even longer and might not be complete until early Tuesday. Salvage experts have said the dimensions of the stricken 951-foot vessel make the operation unparalleled in the annals of marine salvage, as more than 500 divers, technicians, engineers and biologists prepared the ship for what is known as “parbuckling” to bring it upright and minimize environmental risks to Giglio Island, a marine sanctuary. |
| Using huge jacks, cables, pulleys and specialized equipment, the salvage effort had been set to begin at first light, but a sudden storm prevented workers from moving a barge and rubber booms close to the ship. | Using huge jacks, cables, pulleys and specialized equipment, the salvage effort had been set to begin at first light, but a sudden storm prevented workers from moving a barge and rubber booms close to the ship. |
| Three hours after work started, engineers said the first phase of the operation — easing the vessel away from its rocky perch — was going according to plan. “These hours were the most uncertain, as we could not establish how much the hull was wedged,” said Sergio Girotto, project manager with Micoperi, an underwater construction and offshore contractor. “Now we have to guide it into the desired position.” | Three hours after work started, engineers said the first phase of the operation — easing the vessel away from its rocky perch — was going according to plan. “These hours were the most uncertain, as we could not establish how much the hull was wedged,” said Sergio Girotto, project manager with Micoperi, an underwater construction and offshore contractor. “Now we have to guide it into the desired position.” |
| Pressed down for months by water and the ship’s own weight, the hull showed “great deformations,” he said. | Pressed down for months by water and the ship’s own weight, the hull showed “great deformations,” he said. |
| The next phase of the salvage, engineers said, involved settling the wreck on an artificial seabed made of bags of cement next to underwater steel platforms. To achieve that, the cruise liner needed to be rotated about 65 degrees, they said. If it all goes well, the ship will be towed away and broken up for scrap by spring. | |
| The operation was broadcast live on television and the Internet. The Italian news media portrayed the salvage as a chance for Italy to revamp its image after the wreck, in which the captain fled the damaged ship and the evacuation was chaotic. | The operation was broadcast live on television and the Internet. The Italian news media portrayed the salvage as a chance for Italy to revamp its image after the wreck, in which the captain fled the damaged ship and the evacuation was chaotic. |
| The leading national daily, Corriere della Sera, called the shipwreck “a monument to human stupidity” and a “humiliation” for Italy. It said it hoped that the salvage effort would provide a “new and different story” for the country. | The leading national daily, Corriere della Sera, called the shipwreck “a monument to human stupidity” and a “humiliation” for Italy. It said it hoped that the salvage effort would provide a “new and different story” for the country. |
| The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is scheduled to go on trial this fall on charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the vessel before everyone was safe. He has denied wrongdoing. A company official and four crew members have already pleaded guilty to reduced charges. | The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is scheduled to go on trial this fall on charges of multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the vessel before everyone was safe. He has denied wrongdoing. A company official and four crew members have already pleaded guilty to reduced charges. |
| Preparations for the salvage operation took 14 months, and the cost has increased to $799 million from $300 million and could rise further, according to Costa Cruises. The Costa Concordia has been stabilized with anchors and cement bags, and underwater platforms have been built on the port side. Salvage crews used pulleys, strand jacks and steel cables placed on nine caissons attached to the left side of the ship, to slowly dislodge it on Monday from the two rocks where it has been resting. | Preparations for the salvage operation took 14 months, and the cost has increased to $799 million from $300 million and could rise further, according to Costa Cruises. The Costa Concordia has been stabilized with anchors and cement bags, and underwater platforms have been built on the port side. Salvage crews used pulleys, strand jacks and steel cables placed on nine caissons attached to the left side of the ship, to slowly dislodge it on Monday from the two rocks where it has been resting. |
| The operation was monitored by engineers and remotely operated vehicle pilots from a control room on a barge close to the bow of the ship. If images or sonar show dangerous twisting, the technicians can adjust the process. At a command center onshore, engineers could intervene if the ship does not rotate, or does not rotate properly. | The operation was monitored by engineers and remotely operated vehicle pilots from a control room on a barge close to the bow of the ship. If images or sonar show dangerous twisting, the technicians can adjust the process. At a command center onshore, engineers could intervene if the ship does not rotate, or does not rotate properly. |
| Salvage masters and the Italian authorities have prepared for complications. Most of the fuel was siphoned off within months of the wreck. But the vessel that once transported and entertained 4,229 people still contains chemicals and diesel fuel that could leak into the pristine waters for which Giglio, a popular tourist spot, is known. | Salvage masters and the Italian authorities have prepared for complications. Most of the fuel was siphoned off within months of the wreck. But the vessel that once transported and entertained 4,229 people still contains chemicals and diesel fuel that could leak into the pristine waters for which Giglio, a popular tourist spot, is known. |
| During the rotation process, the region’s environmental agency took samples to monitor water quality. | During the rotation process, the region’s environmental agency took samples to monitor water quality. |
| “Detaching the ship from the rocks was the most complicated phase, which is probably why they decided to do it very cautiously,” said Emilio Campana, the director of the research office for naval and maritime engineering at Italy’s National Research Council. “We have to keep in mind that the structure is heavily damaged, and see if and how it holds together from now on and when it will be refloated.” | “Detaching the ship from the rocks was the most complicated phase, which is probably why they decided to do it very cautiously,” said Emilio Campana, the director of the research office for naval and maritime engineering at Italy’s National Research Council. “We have to keep in mind that the structure is heavily damaged, and see if and how it holds together from now on and when it will be refloated.” |
Gaia Pianigiani reported from Giglio, and Alan Cowell from London. | Gaia Pianigiani reported from Giglio, and Alan Cowell from London. |