Refloating of Costa Concordia started this morning

[Tuomas Romu]

I have read some of Anders Björkman's writeups. Even if he makes a point here and there, I think he is a conspiracy theorist full of crap.

edit: Apparently he's a well-known conspiracy theorist (e.g. in the 9/11 and moon landing circles) who often disregards simple laws of physics in order to drive his own agenda. I would take everything he says with a big grain of salt.

[maripaul]

I totally agree with you, but even so, he does make a few interesting points about the Costa Concordia incident (not raised elsewhere), as well as some interesting charts and graphics.

[michaeljordan]

Yes, the wreck of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia is going to refloat. This re-floating operation expected to take six or seven days.Capacity of this cruise is 3200 passengers and 1000 crew members.Good to see that Costa Concordia is starting again.

[dickt]

It is amazing with witch kind of a tugs this vessel will be towed?

[Tuomas Romu]

I think AHTSs are best suited for the job.

[SSM2005]

When, and how will they go about removing the artificial seabed built as a platform for the liner during the salvage?

[Federico]

The Concordia will pass in front of the small town of Voltri to go inside the container port of Voltri. If you enlarge the picture on Google Earth you will see...

[holedrille]

Still there! I thought she was going Tuesday.
Are the salvage team closing off and pumping out any compartments that are watertight now that the ship is raised, in order to add buoyancy.
Or are they just relying on the lift from the sponsons?
Holedriller

[Fred Vloo]

And she's gone!!!!

[davidships]

Interesting that they've put an AIS set on COSTA CONCORDIA herself - ITMCC as call-sign! MMSI 247359600

Tow from BLIZZARD and RESOLVE EARL, with VOE EARL and coastguard launch CP 273 close escorting CC.
Following are anti-pollution ARMONIA, big new coastguard patrol UBALDO DICIOTTI (CP 941), CP 286 and tug IEVOLI WHITE.  Also POSEIDON (the Arpat research vessel) and Belgian-owned CDT FOURCAULT

All at a stately 2-2½kn and just turned NE now well clear of the island.

Stayed behind at Giglio: RED WOLF, GARIBALDO, AFON CEFNI.

(later) VOE EARL returned to Giglio
Now joined by tug RED WOLF, crane vessel CICLOPE and passenger yacht VIESTE 2 (media? dignitaries?).

[REVISED - nb some AIS sites not picking up whole flotilla]

[DanEarl]

For all the months I worked down there on the salvage I never actually thought I would see the day she disappeared under tow from the webcam / salvage site.

I think I am not the only one !

Hope she has a safe final voyage.

Cheers, Dan.

[Pier Master]

BBC news report here...


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28437238

[davidships]

It seem that we are back to the "unoficial" thread.

This evening, now heading west to round Isla Pianosa and prepare for the "sail by" of the Corsican Coast.

Not wishing to be left out, after a leasurely lunch at Giglio, GARIBALDO and AFON CEFNI have now caught up.

[gwrdave]

Just looked at marinetraffic site and seems to be making a steady 1.7 kts.

http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:9.941827/centery:42.52967/zoom:8/mmsi:244495000

This was at 07:35 New Zealand time.

Dave G

[davidships]

Now met by French Navy's JASON (IMO 9320922) to make sure they don't miss the turn.