Removal of the Costa Concordia, which remains grounded off the Italian island of Giglio, will likely take 10 to 12 months to complete, according to estimates from several salvage companies that submitted plans to Costa Cruises.
In its quarterly earnings report on Friday, Carnival Corp. (parent of Costa Cruises) said the Costa Concordia “has been deemed to be a constructive total loss.”
Six plans were received by a March 3 deadline set by the cruise line. It said that of the 10 salvage companies invited to bid for the contract, three pulled out due to previous commitments and two joined forces to present a joint project.
Technical assessments of the six plans are under way, and a short list will be drawn up by mid-March, according to a statement from Costa.
A final decision on which plan will be selected is expected in late March or early April.
An update on the bidding process was provided during a meeting in Rome on March 6 with Pier Luigi Foschi, chairman and CEO of Costa Cruises, and Prefetto Franco Gabrielli, head of Italy's Civil Protection Department.
“The six plans involve different approaches and techniques. However, they all share a focus on ensuring the least possible environmental impact and protecting tourism and business activities on the island of Giglio with maximum safety,” said Costa.
The Costa Concordia hit a rocky reef on Jan. 13 near Giglio. Twenty-five people died and seven remain missing.
Follow Donna Tunney on Twitter @dttravelweekly.