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Costa Concordia's final voyage helps to salvage Italy's pride Costa Concordia's final voyage helps to salvage Italy's pride
(2 days later)
Tugs nudged the hulk of the Costa Concordia into a berth in the industrial port of Voltri on the outskirts of Genoa on Sunday afternoon, bringing to a successful conclusion one of the most complex and costly marine salvage operations ever attempted.Tugs nudged the hulk of the Costa Concordia into a berth in the industrial port of Voltri on the outskirts of Genoa on Sunday afternoon, bringing to a successful conclusion one of the most complex and costly marine salvage operations ever attempted.
Ships in the port and the adjoining harbour sounded a last, mournful salute to the liner as it entered the closing stage of its journey from the island of Giglio where it was wrecked just over two and half years ago.Ships in the port and the adjoining harbour sounded a last, mournful salute to the liner as it entered the closing stage of its journey from the island of Giglio where it was wrecked just over two and half years ago.
The liner's Italian captain, Francesco Schettino, took the Costa Concordia to within a few hundred metres of the island's shore to give a "salute" on the night of the tragedy. He is currently on trial charged with manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning his ship. He denies any wrongdoing.The liner's Italian captain, Francesco Schettino, took the Costa Concordia to within a few hundred metres of the island's shore to give a "salute" on the night of the tragedy. He is currently on trial charged with manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning his ship. He denies any wrongdoing.
The demolition and scrapping of the vessel will take an estimated 22 months. But before work starts, the wreck is to be searched for the remains of an Indian waiter – the only victim of the disaster whose body has never been found.The demolition and scrapping of the vessel will take an estimated 22 months. But before work starts, the wreck is to be searched for the remains of an Indian waiter – the only victim of the disaster whose body has never been found.
Divers are also looking for the body in the shallow waters off Giglio where the ship lay on its side for more than a year and a half.Divers are also looking for the body in the shallow waters off Giglio where the ship lay on its side for more than a year and a half.
The stricken vessel was a spectacle that many Italians viewed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. The film director Paolo Sorrentino used it in his Oscar-winning film, The Great Beauty, as a metaphor for his country's recent economic failure and political immobility.The stricken vessel was a spectacle that many Italians viewed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. The film director Paolo Sorrentino used it in his Oscar-winning film, The Great Beauty, as a metaphor for his country's recent economic failure and political immobility.
The successful completion of the salvage operation, in which Italian engineers and other specialists played an important role, has provided some much needed encouragement to a country trying to make a new start under its young centre-left prime minister, Matteo Renzi.The successful completion of the salvage operation, in which Italian engineers and other specialists played an important role, has provided some much needed encouragement to a country trying to make a new start under its young centre-left prime minister, Matteo Renzi.
Italian media gave extensive and quietly jubilant coverage to the removal of the Costa Concordia and its 200 nautical mile (370km) voyage across the Mediterranean. But Renzi, who flew to Genoa to watch the final stages of the operation, cautioned that it was not the moment "to throw a party".Italian media gave extensive and quietly jubilant coverage to the removal of the Costa Concordia and its 200 nautical mile (370km) voyage across the Mediterranean. But Renzi, who flew to Genoa to watch the final stages of the operation, cautioned that it was not the moment "to throw a party".
Thirty-two passengers and crew lost their lives in the chaotic evacuation of the liner after it hit a rock on January 13, 2013. A diver at work on the wreck died in February. Thirty-two passengers and crew lost their lives in the chaotic evacuation of the liner after it hit a rock on 13 January 2012. A diver at work on the wreck died in February.
Renzi said his presence was intended as "sign of gratitude from the prime minister for getting something done which everyone said would be impossible". He added: "We don't have to resign ourselves to decline. Italy can start over again."Renzi said his presence was intended as "sign of gratitude from the prime minister for getting something done which everyone said would be impossible". He added: "We don't have to resign ourselves to decline. Italy can start over again."
Franco Gabrielli, the Italian civil defence official who oversaw the operation, said the Costa Concordia had demonstrated "impressive robustness".Franco Gabrielli, the Italian civil defence official who oversaw the operation, said the Costa Concordia had demonstrated "impressive robustness".
Captain Gianluca Agostino of the coast guard told Sky TG24 television that the voyage to Genoa went so smoothly that one night the crew in a control room attached to the liner were able to switch on the lights along the uncrushed side of the ship as if it were making a last Mediterranean cruise.Captain Gianluca Agostino of the coast guard told Sky TG24 television that the voyage to Genoa went so smoothly that one night the crew in a control room attached to the liner were able to switch on the lights along the uncrushed side of the ship as if it were making a last Mediterranean cruise.
But Giovanni Calvelli, a spokesman for the Genoa harbourmaster, said the final stages of the operation were delicate – "like moving a TIR lorry with the handbrake on". He said the hulk had no power of its own and was slowed down by the 30 huge sponsons (flotation tanks) attached to its sides.But Giovanni Calvelli, a spokesman for the Genoa harbourmaster, said the final stages of the operation were delicate – "like moving a TIR lorry with the handbrake on". He said the hulk had no power of its own and was slowed down by the 30 huge sponsons (flotation tanks) attached to its sides.
Fears had been expressed that by bringing the vessel to Genoa to be broken, the owners were risking an environmental disaster. But Italy's environment minister, Gian Luca Galletti, said the concerns had proved unfounded.Fears had been expressed that by bringing the vessel to Genoa to be broken, the owners were risking an environmental disaster. But Italy's environment minister, Gian Luca Galletti, said the concerns had proved unfounded.
Dismantling the ship is expected to cost about €100m (£80m). By the time it is complete, the overall salvage effort will have cost Carnival Corporation, the owner of the ship's operator, Costa Cruises, and its insurers an estimated €1.5bn.Dismantling the ship is expected to cost about €100m (£80m). By the time it is complete, the overall salvage effort will have cost Carnival Corporation, the owner of the ship's operator, Costa Cruises, and its insurers an estimated €1.5bn.
• This article was amended on 29 July 2014. The Costa Concordia disaster took place in January 2012, not 2013 as we had it in the original version of this story. This has been corrected.