Costa Concordia - Salvage

Salvage

Salvage experts Smit International assessed removal of Costa Concordia and her 2,380 tonnes of fuel. Smit assessed that any salvage operation could take up to ten months, and the ship may be a constructive total loss. Smit were contracted to remove her fuel, and during the operation it was reported that the ship had shifted 60 cm (23.6 in) since grounding, but there was no immediate prospect of her breaking up or sinking deeper.

Following a competitive tender, in May 2012 it was announced that Titan Salvage and Italian firm Micoperi had won the salvage contracts. Their plan, expected to cost $300m and therefore expected to be the most expensive salvage ever, is to:

• Secure the hull to the land using steel cables, to stop her falling into the deeper ocean
• Build a horizontal underwater platform below the ship
• Bring the hull to vertical, by winching the hull onto the platform
• Attach airtight tanks to either side of the hull
• Refloat the hull and tanks
• Recovery tow to an Italian port