FLORENCE, ITALY – The wrecked Costa Concordia will be removed as soon as possible from the Tuscan island of Giglio, where it went down after hitting rocks in January 2012, killing 32.
The Italian government has two aims: to have the Concordia removed from that area as soon as possible to protect the environment and also the local summer tourist season; and to keep the wreckage in Italy.
The wreck of the Costa Concordia will be dismantled in Turkey or Italy, Civil Protection chief Franco Gabrielli said Thursday.
Gabrielli told parliament that Ankara had presented the best offer, $40 million, compared to a whopping $200 million by the Italian port of Civitavecchia. He said Genoa and Piombino had the technical means to do the job.
The stricken cruise liner is currently moored just outside the Giglio island port after the semi-submerged hull was turned upright in a successful parbuckling operation last September.
A new sophisticated crane barge has arrived on April 20, 2014, at Giglio Island in order to carry out operations related to the installation of the 19 sponsons to be completed before refloating.
It’s the “Conquest MB1”, an offshore crane barge fitted with a sophisticated rotating/luffing crane and associated automated heel-trim compensation system.
The barge is designed on a modular concept, fitted with operational 6 point mooring system and accommodation modules suitable for 60 persons.
Furthermore a full air-range diving spread has been arranged on board and the diver teams involved in the installation of the sponsons will operate from the barge.
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