JULY 23, 2014 — Like a corpse in an open casket, the wreck of the cruise ship Costa Concordia is being towed, buoyed up by sponsons, in the direction of Genoa for recycling at a funeral two knots pace. But because the final mooring cables had been launched and the wreck lastly obtained underneath tow, the temper amongst salvors was festive, with tugboats spraying water into the air and staff popping bottles of prosecco.
The cruise ship’s last voyage started two years after it grounded with the lack of 32 lives.
Though the salvage can’t actually be deemed over till the wreck lastly reaches the recycling yard, the salvors actually had a lot to have fun. The Titan-Micoperi staff has succeeded in undertaking the biggest and most difficult wreck elevating and restoration effort ever.
Bean counters at Carnival Corporation’s Costa Crociere subsidiary are more likely to be much less blissful. They estimate that the operation to lift and take away the wreck from the Island of Giglio and tow it for scrapping will price EUR 1.5 billion — greater than thrice the vessel’s EUR 450 million constructing price.
Titan Salvage says that the sluggish and exact tow of the wreck is being made by a convoy comprised of a minimum of 10 different vessels. There are two tugs, with a mixed 24,000 horsepower and 275 tons of bollard pull, on the ship’s bow towing the hull. Another two auxiliary tugs are positioned aft. The different vessels within the convoy, together with a pontoon with a 200-tonne crane, are carrying personnel and tools. A staff of marine biologists is current through the tow and the convoy is being preceded by a specialised marine mammals-watching vessel. The convoy is anticipated to reach in Genoa on Saturday, July 26, about mid-day pending favorable climate and vessel site visitors within the space.
To make sure the continued integrity of the mission, Titan Salvage’s Nick Sloane, senior salvage grasp, and Rich Habib, salvage director, are onboard the Costa Concordia to offer around-the-clock, hands-on monitoring of the vessel’s checklist, ballasting, pace and extra.
The crusing route will take the vessels south between the island of Giglio and Giannutri earlier than heading west-southwest to a degree south of the island of Montecristo. The convoy will then head west-northwest to a place south of the island referred to as Scoglio d’Africa earlier than crossing the Ligurian Sea to the Port of Genoa Voltri.
“This is the latest achievement in a very long series of detailed wreck removal phases,” defined Titan’s Chris Peterson, vp. “We have patiently and eagerly planned for this move and only upon confirming that is was safe to do so, got underway.”
Once the tow arrives in Genoa, the Titan Micoperi salvage staff will help with the switch of the vessel to the Genoa consortium that may carry out the dismantling.
