Concordia Wreck Preparing for Tow to Genoa

In three weeks, the Costa Concordia wreck will be towed to Genoa for demolition and recycling.

At the end of the Conferenza dei Servizi meeting held yesterday, June 25, in Rome, Costa Crociere reaffirmed the motivations for the choice of the transportation of the Concordia wreck in Genoa for its dismantling and recycling, stating Genoa is the only Italian port in which demolition and recycling activities can start immediately and count on the best possible technologies and environmental safety standards.

Michael Thamm, Costa Crociere CEO, said, “Our company wants to honor a precise commitment to remove the wreck as soon as possible, in total safety and with the highest environmental standards. To reach this objective, we have turned to the best expertise, the most advanced technological solutions, and unprecedented financial resources.”

Thamm continued, “In three weeks we will be ready to tow the Concordia from Giglio Island, in a period of time that statistically presents the most favorable weather and sea conditions. Given this timeframe, the only solution is transporting the wreck into a place which is fully equipped for dismantling with the highest environmental standards.”

“Up to now, all the technical decisions Costa Crociere has made have proven correct - from the ion and assignment of the removal project to Titan Micoperi, to the parbuckling last September. We believe we deserve the trust of the Italian authorities also for the final phase. The only objective we work for is to close this project in the best possible way.”

“The positive opinion expressed by 17 Ministries and public authorities over 19 that were called to give their technical evaluations today at the Conferenza dei Servizi Servizi, reassures us on the validity of Costa Crociere’s choice for the Genoa project.” Thamm said. “The Concordia project remains unchanged and is consistent with the one presented in the Conferenza dei Servizi two years ago, that foresaw the towage to an Italian port equipped with dismantling dry docks and facilities. Piombino is not a valid alternative due to the substantial delays in operations to build port infrastructure. We are confident that the Council of Ministers, that is now called to take a final decision, can positively evaluate the solidity of the Genoa project.”

The ion of the project for the demolition and recycling of the wreck presented by the Consortium Saipem/San Giorgio del Porto is the result of the evaluation of all the proposals received by Italian and foreign companies/consortia in the context of the international tender process that was launched in December.

The choice of this project is the result of technical considerations on the validity of proposed methodology, reliability and expertise of the companies and of the workforce involved, the certainty and rapidity of outcome, the environmental sustainability of all the working phases.

The Concordia wreck removal project is the biggest naval salvage operation in history. There are currently more than 350 technicians are working 24/7 to complete sponson installation before the refloating phase. All the 15 starboard sponsons have been installed and now technicians are working on the last four sponsons to be positioned on the port side before refloating the wreck and prepare it for towage. The schedule of operations foresees that the refloating can start by the middle of July, with the approval of the observatory.