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Costa Concordia: engineers work on refloating process before it is towed Costa Concordia: first stage of refloatation process complete
(34 minutes later)
Engineers carrying out an unprecedented salvage operation on the rusting hulk of the Costa Concordia cruise ship were working on Monday to successfully complete the first stage in its refloating as the 114,500 gross tonnage wreck prepared to make its voyage to the scrapyard. Engineers carrying out an unprecedented salvage operation on the rusting hulk of the Costa Concordia cruise ship said they had successfully completed the first stage in its refloating as the 114,500 gross tonnage wreck prepared to make its voyage to the scrapyard.
After a day of painstaking work which saw the ship lifted two metres off an underwater platform, technicians set about towing it with tugboats about 30 metres east from the shoreline and were later to begin stabilising it for the night. After a day of painstaking work which saw the ship lifted two metres off an underwater platform and towed around 30 metres east from the shoreline, technicians set about stabilising it.
The delicate refloating process is relying largely on the ability of 30 metal boxes – or sponsons – built on to the hull to propel the wreck upwards thanks to air pumped in to displace the water inside.The delicate refloating process is relying largely on the ability of 30 metal boxes – or sponsons – built on to the hull to propel the wreck upwards thanks to air pumped in to displace the water inside.
It is expected to take several days and, if all goes well, the ship is likely to be towed to its final destination, the north-western Italian port of Genova, next Monday.It is expected to take several days and, if all goes well, the ship is likely to be towed to its final destination, the north-western Italian port of Genova, next Monday.
The total cost of the salvage – from the initial stabilising steps to last year's dramatic parbuckling through to this final stage – is expected to reach about €1.5bn, Michael Thamm, chief executive of ship owner Costa Crociere, told journalists last week.The total cost of the salvage – from the initial stabilising steps to last year's dramatic parbuckling through to this final stage – is expected to reach about €1.5bn, Michael Thamm, chief executive of ship owner Costa Crociere, told journalists last week.
The chief engineer of the project, Franco Porcellacchia, said: "The ship is floating and is well balanced. We're extremely pleased so far."The chief engineer of the project, Franco Porcellacchia, said: "The ship is floating and is well balanced. We're extremely pleased so far."
Two-and-a-half years have now passed since the Costa Concordia, under the captaincy of Francesco Schettino, crashed into a reef off the coast of Giglio island in Tuscany, and ran aground, causing the deaths of 32 people.Two-and-a-half years have now passed since the Costa Concordia, under the captaincy of Francesco Schettino, crashed into a reef off the coast of Giglio island in Tuscany, and ran aground, causing the deaths of 32 people.
Italy's civil protection chief, Franco Gabrielli, has said that as soon as the wreck is at sea the search will resume for the body of Russel Rebello, the Indian waiter who is the only victim never to have been found. His brother, Kevin Rebello, said in a Facebook post: "I strongly believe they will find the body of my dear brother, Russel."Italy's civil protection chief, Franco Gabrielli, has said that as soon as the wreck is at sea the search will resume for the body of Russel Rebello, the Indian waiter who is the only victim never to have been found. His brother, Kevin Rebello, said in a Facebook post: "I strongly believe they will find the body of my dear brother, Russel."
Schettino, meanwhile, is on trial in the Tuscan town of Grosseto for multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning ship.Schettino, meanwhile, is on trial in the Tuscan town of Grosseto for multiple manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning ship.
Although the first stages appeared to have gone largely without a hitch, the final phase of the gigantic salvage operation is not without risks. "The operation began well, but it will be completed only when we have finished the transport to Genova," Gian Luca Galletti, the Italian environment minister, told reporters.Although the first stages appeared to have gone largely without a hitch, the final phase of the gigantic salvage operation is not without risks. "The operation began well, but it will be completed only when we have finished the transport to Genova," Gian Luca Galletti, the Italian environment minister, told reporters.
Nick Sloane, the salvage master in charge of the work, said he felt nervous before Monday's activity and warned, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, that the 290-metre long vessel could "bend as it is raised, or the chains underneath it could snap".Nick Sloane, the salvage master in charge of the work, said he felt nervous before Monday's activity and warned, in an interview with Agence France-Presse, that the 290-metre long vessel could "bend as it is raised, or the chains underneath it could snap".
However, for some environmentalists, the biggest risks of the process are to the waters through which the Costa Concordia will trundle as it is towed, at a speed of around two-and-a-half knots, about 200 nautical miles to Genova – a journey expected to take four or five days.However, for some environmentalists, the biggest risks of the process are to the waters through which the Costa Concordia will trundle as it is towed, at a speed of around two-and-a-half knots, about 200 nautical miles to Genova – a journey expected to take four or five days.
Greenpeace Italy has warned of huge potential damage to the environment if dangerous substances inside the ship leak into the sea during the trip.Greenpeace Italy has warned of huge potential damage to the environment if dangerous substances inside the ship leak into the sea during the trip.
The smaller Tuscan port of Piombino, which is nearer to Giglio, had argued that it should receive the ship – and the lucrative scrapping contract – but the Italian government plumped for Genova, apparently because Piombino was not ready for an operation of this size.The smaller Tuscan port of Piombino, which is nearer to Giglio, had argued that it should receive the ship – and the lucrative scrapping contract – but the Italian government plumped for Genova, apparently because Piombino was not ready for an operation of this size.