Cruise Ship Freed from Reef
September 17, 2013
Engineers have successfully pulled the partially submerged Costa Concordia cruise ship upright. It took 19 hours to wrench the 114,500-ton (103,873-metric-ton) ship from its side in a salvage operation that experts describe as “unprecedented” and “remarkable.” Engineers from 26 countries participated in the operation, which cost $795 million–more than the original cost of the ship. At least 30,000 tons (27,215 metric tons) of steel–four times the weight of the Eiffel Tower–were used in the construction of the various components used to free the Concordia from a reef. After being towed to a shipyard, the once-luxurious cruise ship will be cut up for scrap.
The Costa Concordia ran aground off Giglio Island, along Italy’s Tuscany coast, on Jan. 13, 2012. The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, steered the ship too close to shore, allegedly to impress a young woman with him on the bridge. Stuck on a reef, the ship rolled onto its side, resulting in the deaths of 32 people.
Two bodies that were never recovered are expected to be found on the section of the ship that has been submerged for 20 months. According to Costa, a division of Miami-based Carnival Corp., a search will be conducted cabin by cabin. At the same time, safes will be opened so recovered valuables can be returned to their rightful owners.
Captain Schettino is currently on trial for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck, and abandoning his ship during a highly chaotic evacuation.
Additional World Book articles:
- Ship (safety)
- Italy 2012 (a Back in Time article)