ASA to Bid on Removal of Costa Concordia
Seven members of the American Salvage Association (ASA) have been invited to submit competitive bids to remove the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio in late January. One member already involved with response. According to Lloyds List, "The company (vessel owner), owned by Miami-based Carnival, said in a statement that it would select a salvage firm based on tenders" by the end of March. One ASA member has already been contracted and is onsite in Italy to remove fuel oil and marine gasoline from the vessel.
Bow Mariner Salvage Operation Ends
The operation to locate and recover the missing crew from the Bow Mariner and remove fuel oil ended Friday, March 26, with the approval of the Coast Guard. The salvage effort was called off after a comprehensive search using a sophisticated ROV (remotely operated vehicle), an analysis of high-resolution video images and evaluating extensive soundings of the sunken vessel's fuel tanks. "We are saddened because we did not locate any of the 18 missing seamen," said a joint statement by Ceres and Odfjell, respectively the managers and owners of the Bow Mariner. Salvage experts retained by Ceres and Odfjell presented the results of their findings to Coast Guard officers at Norfolk's Marine Safety Office Friday.