Costa Crociere and Italo-American consortium Titan-Micoperi presented their plan to Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner Franco Gabrielli to remove the wreck of the Costa Concordia from the coast of Giglio Island.
Following a conference convened by the Commissioner on May 15, during which the relevant authorities provided the necessary permits, the work will begin in a few days and is expected to last about 12 months.
Titan Salvage, part of the Crowley Group, is an American-owned specialist marine salvage and wreck removal company. Micoperi is an Italian marine contractor with a long history as a specialist in underwater construction and engineering.
The plan to refloat the hull in one piece is top priority, minimalizing the environmental impact while protecting Giglio's economy and tourism industry.
Operations will be divided into four basic stages:
1. After stabilizing the ship, a subsea platform will be built and caissons that can be filled with water will be fixed to the side of the ship that is out of the water.
2. Two cranes fixed to the platform will pull the ship upright, helped by the caissons, which will be filled with water.
3. When the ship is upright, additional caissons will be fixed to the other side of the hull.
4. The caissons on both sides will then be emptied, after treating and purifying the water to protect the marine environment, and filled with air.
Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of Italian authorities. Once the removal is complete, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted.
