The cruise operator failed to accept the findings of UK medical experts, so Costa Concordia survivors will be flying back to Italy. Those who were injured “are now having to undergo further medical assessments, say that returning to Italy is “likely to only serve to compound the trauma” experienced by the victims.”
Both sides appealing Concordia captain conviction
Italian courtconvicted Francesco Schettino of manslaughter of 32 passengers and crew members, of causing the shipwreck in colliding with a reef near Giglio island and of abandoning the capsized vessel with people still aboard. The prosecution and defense are appealing the sentenced og 16 years in prison.
The Titan-Micoperi salvage team has successfully completed the first stage of its operation to refloat Costa Cruises’ Costa Concordia off the coast of Giglio Island, Italy.
The Titan-Micoperi salvage team has successfully completed the first stage of its operation to refloat Costa Cruises’ Costa Concordia off the coast of Giglio Island, Italy.
Engineers started the operation to refloat the ship on 14 July after Nick Sloane, the senior salvage master, and the rest of his team arrived at the Remote Operations Center, which is located on Concordia. Work to remove the final 1,000 tonnes of weight began at 8.30am.
Concordia has now been partially refloated and her bow and stern are about 2.2m above the underwater platform she has been resting on since the parbuckling project started in September 2016.
Shipwreck off Italy must be removed soon
An Italian official is pressing for the speedy removal of the shipwrecked cruise liner, the Costa Concordia, warning that the hulk may break up in winter storms.
Franco Gabrielli, head of the removal efforts, told residents of the tiny Mediterranean island of Giglio on Monday that the ship must be towed by September at the latest. Gabrielli says another winter’s worth of storms may damage the ship to such an extent that towing won’t be possible.
He pressed various national, regional and local authorities to move forward on plans.