The Costa Concordia is seen after Monday’s initial refloat at Giglio harbour, July 14, 2014. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
Update: She’s off! Track Costa Concordia Live – AIS MAP
Work at the Costa Concordia wreck site in Giglio continued overnight Monday and throughout the day Tuesday following Monday’s successful initial float.
Engineers are in the process of securing the final chains and cables needed to tow the vessel from the island once and for all to Genoa for scrapping.
“The underwater preliminary activities related to the beginning of the last phase of the refloating operation of the Concordia are in progress today,” said an update from the projects website around midday. “Technicians are indeed working to connect and tension the last 4 chains and 6 cables. The wreck is stable position and securely moored.”
The next steps will involve maneuvering the sponsons into their final position. The sponsons, which are the 30 airtight steel boxes secured to both sides of the ship and used for flotation, were pumped full of air Monday during the first stage of the refloating operation on Monday. The added flotation lifted the ship out of the water by approximately 2.2 meters, at which point it was then moved about 30 meters away from shore with the help of tugboats.
The Costa Concordia will remain securely moored as final preparations for the towing procedure are completed. The wreck will be refloated even further just prior its departure from the island when the sponsons are again deballasted until the wreck reaches its towing draft of 18.5 meters and the water drops from deck 6 to deck 3.
The Costa Concordia is still scheduled depart Giglio under tow on Monday, July 21.
The 114,500 tonne Costa Concordia ran aground off Giglio Island in January 2012 and has been stranded there ever since. The effort to remove the vessel is considered the largest maritime salvage in history. The salvage is being led by a team from Titan-Micoperi and South African Salvage Master Nick Sloane.
Previous Refloating Coverage:
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