Cruise Ship Costa Concordia - MERGED THREADS

[St. Elsewhere]

The government salvage plan review is done and approval is granted so the work can begin . . . .

Name: COSTA CONCORDIA Costa Concordia - Type of ship: Passenger ship - Callsign: IBHD - vesseltracker.com
IMO: 9320544
Time: 16-05-2012 08:11:46 UTC

NEWS:
The plans to remove the "Costa Concordia" were approved by Italian civil authorities on May 15. The two companies Titan Salvage and Micoperi intend to refloat the entire ship. The ship is leaning on its side with most of her 9 levels under the water. There was a conference about the plans in Rome at the Civil Defence Department, the AGI news agency of Italy reports, chaired by Franco Gabrielli, the Commissioner for Emergencies. Others attending included officials from the environment, health care, cultural heritage and infrastructure and transport ministries. Parameters around the removal were drawn up and approved and the two salvage companies now have the green light to begin operations.

[MacG]

I have my sincere doubts about the whole fling. Neither Titan nor Micoperi have the inhouse experience of the Dutch. I am not at all nationalistic but the salvage of the Kursk was not done by either of the two companies before mentioned.

I put a bottle of Champagne as a wager that both will not succeed. The final result will be that the vessel will be scrapped locally.
Wait and see.

[sigmasailor]

If Concordia is not scrapped on site she might simply go over the edge and sink; a very likely scenario.
Everyone will be in total shock (no one will take responsibility) but once it happened nothing can be done about that.

Agree with MacG: leave it to the Dutch!

[Capt Phil]

As suggested in post #1057... the circus has begun. Capt Phil

[MacG]

Originally Posted by sigmasailor

If Concordia is not scrapped on site she might simply go over the edge and sink; a very likely scenario.
Everyone will be in total shock (no one will take responsibility) but once it happened nothing can be done about that.

Agree with MacG: leave it to the Dutch!

That is of course another viable possibility. Also a final solution for Titan/Micoperi to get rid of the whole issue when things do not work.

[David M]

An American company, Titan Salvage, and an Italian company have won the contract to salvage the Concordia. The ship will be floated away.

U.S., Italian firms win Concordia salvage contract | Reuters

[Blue Stocking]

Of course, the technical aspects of this job may recieve large inputs from Dutch personnel.

[sigmasailor]

The Italian court ruled one Italian guy to be incompetent: Rechtbank verklaart cruisekapitein ongeschikt - Buitenland | Het laatste buitenlandse nieuws leest u op Telegraaf.nl [buitenland]

Surprise?

[St. Elsewhere]

If the doubters are correct, and it slips of the edge to a depth that is not a navigational hazard, is that a problem now that the fuel and waste tanks have been emptied? Perhaps such considerations have been taken into account, and determined to be less risky than cutting it up while partially submerged.

[Capt Phil]

Bad news, St. Elsewhere... the condoms will float to the surface for years regardless of the depth... it's an Italian cruise ship!

[Pato]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

Bad news, St. Elsewhere... the condoms will float to the surface for years regardless of the depth... it's an Italian cruise ship!

Oh that's funny So true


I do think that they will be able to re float at least enough to move it

[St. Elsewhere]

Here are a few more details on the plan to accomplish refloating Costa Concordia . . . .

Name: COSTA CONCORDIA Costa Concordia - Type of ship: Passenger ship - Callsign: IBHD - vesseltracker.com
IMO: 9320544
Time: 18-05-2012 17:41:52 UTC

NEWS:
On May 18, 2012, the salvage plan for the "Costa Concordia" was published by Costa Crociere and the Italian-American consortium Titan-Micoperi. After stabilization of the ship an underwater platform is to be built. Then two cranes are mounted. Moreover caissons will be attached to the side of the vessel which are filled with water. The ship will then be brought into an upright position. Then the caissons are gradually emptied and filled with air. Once the ship is afloat again, tugs will pull it away. The cleaning of the seabed and the renewal of the marine flora are integrated into the plan. The work should start in a few days and is expected to last twelve months. About 100 people will be involved in the salvage. The costs are estimated to be about 236 million Euros.

[chris07732]

Informative NYT article today with graphics explaining stages in repair project.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/wo....html?emc=eta1

[MacG]

The article doesn't say anything about the risky side of the operation. It is no more than general info about issues that were known already for a long time.

The Italian officials are correct in the statement that cutting up the ship at situ would cause severe environmental damage.
On the other hand the removal in one piece is a job that would be an ultimate challenge for the biggest operators in the field, not to speak of coy's that never did complicated jobs.
I shall follow the proceedings with primed interest.

[donradcliffe]

If the people in Giglio had any brains, they would be organizing seminars and tours for all of the retired engineers in the world who would love to see the salvage work. They would have to build more hotels.

I like the article which says that it will take 100 people and cost 235 million euro--that's over 2 million euro apiece for the job--good money if you can get it.