An American salvage company and an Italian marine contractor together won the bid to refloat and remove the Costa Concordia in one piece from its perch on a rocky reef off the Italian island of Giglio.
Costa Crociere and the Costa Concordia Emergency Commissioner’s Office said the removal contract was awarded to Titan Salvage in partnership with Italian firm Micoperi.
The work will begin in early May, subject to final approval from the Italian authorities, and is expected to take about 12 months.
Titan Salvage is an American-owned marine salvage and wreck-removal company with offices in Pompano Beach, Fla.; East Sussex, England; and Singapore.
Micoperi is a marine contractor and specialist in underwater construction and engineering headquartered in Ravenna, Italy.
Throughout the salvage operation, environmental protection will have top priority, said Costa. Once the main work is complete, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted.
The plan also includes measures to safeguard the island of Giglio’s tourism and wider economy.
“Salvage workers’ presence will not have any significant impact on the availability of hotel accommodation on the island during the summer season. The main operating base will be located on the mainland at nearby Civitavecchia, where equipment and materials will be stored, thereby avoiding any impact on Giglio’s port activities,” said Costa Cruises.
Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Italian authorities.
Costa said that the Titan Salvage/Micoperi proposal “best fulfilled the main objectives set out in the tender specifications: removal of the wreck in one piece, minimal risk, minimal environmental impact, protection of Giglio’s economy and tourism industry and maximum safety of the work.”
The removal will be the final step of the salvage. Fuel removal was completed March 24.
The 3,200-passenger Costa Concordia was wrecked on Jan. 13, after it hit a reef off Italy’s west coast. Thirty-two people died in the accident. The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, remains under house arrest near Naples.
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