Costa Concordia Salvage Plan Revealed [PHOTO TOUR]

gCaptain ^ | 18 May 12 | gCaptain Staff

[GATOR NAVY]

Representatives from Costa Crociere and the Italo-American consortium Titan-Micoperi today presented the details of their much anticipated plan to remove the wreck of Costa Concordia from the Island of Giglio using cranes and caissons to float the vessel.

As we learned weeks ago, Titan Salvage and Micoperi were selected to remove the stricken Costa Concordia from Giglio Island after beating out several leading salvage companies vying for the historic contract.  Titan Salvage, part of the Crowley Group, is an American-owned specialist marine salvage and wreck removal company and is a world leader in its field. Micoperi is a wellknown Italian marine contractor with a long history as a specialist in underwater construction and engineering.

The requirements laid out for the job included refloating the hull in one piece while giving top priority to minimize the environmental impact, protecting Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and maximizing safety.

To do this, Titan-Micoperi will set up shop on the mainland near Piombino, where equipment and materials will be stored and crews will be housed, therefor avoiding impact on the island’s port activities and as not to clogg up the island’s limited hotel accomodations. The consortium says the work will begin in a few days and is expected to last about 12 months.

The plan to remove the wreckage has been divided into four basic stages, descibed below in photos:

snip

Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in according Italy. Meanwhile, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted.

The plan was selected by an evaluation team with specialist representatives from Costa Crociere, Carnival Corporation & plc, London Offshore Consultants and Standard P&I Club, with the collaboration of RINA and Fincantieri, because it best fulfills the main objectives of the operation — removal of the wreck in one piece, minimal risk, minimal environmental impact, protection of Giglio’s economy and tourism industry, and maximum safety.

While the method has been used before to refloat ships, never has it been done to this scale.  One thing is for sure however; whatever happens, the operation to refloat and remove the Costa Concordia from the shores of Giglio will be a historic one, and one the world will be keeping a close eye on.

[GATOR NAVY]

Graphics of the salvage plan at the link. Looks interesting.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Will there be enough buoyancy from the saddle caissons on both sides? Or will they have to patch the hull underwater while it’s resting on the platform and pump out some of the water?

[MtBaldy]

For anyone who wants to watch the operation (if they keep it up), here is the Giglio harbor webcam:

http://www.giglionews.it/2010022440919/webcam/isola-del-giglio/webcam-giglio-porto-panoramica.html

[GATOR NAVY]

That’s a good question. I noticed that the plan as shown here says nothing about any patching on site but that doesn’t mean they won’t have to.

[GATOR NAVY]

Thanks for that link.

[DCBryan1]

Now we can just come up with a plan to salvage the constitutional republic that our Founder’s gave us. .......and voting for RINOs ain’t it!