Refloat of sunken cruise ship begins in Italy
- 10 years ago
It's lain off the coast of this Italian Island for two and a half years, but now the Costa Concordia may finally be about to leave Giglio's shores.
Salvagers are attempting to refloat the vessel which capsized here after running aground in 2012, killing 32 people.
It is the largest maritime salvage in history, for a ship around two and a half times the size of the Titanic.
Engineers will pump air into thirty metal boxes attached around the hull.
The air will force water out of the boxes and allow the ship to slowly float to the surface, where it will be tugged away from the shore.
The refloat is the final stage in an operation likely to cost the ship's owner and operator 1.5 billion euros.
Many on the Island say they are happy to see the ship go.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GIGLIO ISLANDER, ANTONIO BELLARDO, SAYING:
"Our hope is not 100 percent, but 300 percent that everything goes well and they take this away with success, that they remove as
Salvagers are attempting to refloat the vessel which capsized here after running aground in 2012, killing 32 people.
It is the largest maritime salvage in history, for a ship around two and a half times the size of the Titanic.
Engineers will pump air into thirty metal boxes attached around the hull.
The air will force water out of the boxes and allow the ship to slowly float to the surface, where it will be tugged away from the shore.
The refloat is the final stage in an operation likely to cost the ship's owner and operator 1.5 billion euros.
Many on the Island say they are happy to see the ship go.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) GIGLIO ISLANDER, ANTONIO BELLARDO, SAYING:
"Our hope is not 100 percent, but 300 percent that everything goes well and they take this away with success, that they remove as