By
Rebecca Gibson |
Costa Concordia is now expected to be towed from Giglio Island by a flotilla of 14 vessels on 23 July.
The vessel was originally due to be towed on 20 July, but refloating preparations were hampered by adverse weather and sea conditions. Despite strong winds, the wreck has now been successfully lifted and has an 18 metre draft. The final starboard sponson S14 is currently being lowered to its final position, while engineers are in the process of welding the ship to ensure bollards can be fitted for when Concordia arrives at the port of Genoa.
Tomorrow Concordia will take one of two routes to the north-west Italian port – one that takes the ship to the north of Giglio and one to the south. Technicians will monitor the weather and sea conditions to make a final decision shortly before the operation begins.
According to reports from Italy’s ANSA news service, the team will revert to a backup plan if the weather or sea conditions worsen while Concordia is in transit. In the event of adverse conditions, the convoy will head closer to shore, stopping temporarily near to places such as Livorno or Le Spezia, but not entering any ports.
Under the leadership of Hans Bosch, a flotilla of 14 vessels carrying salvage experts, environmentalists and pollution response teams will escort Concordia to the San Giorgio del Porto yard in Genoa, during an operation that is excepted to last up to five days.
Netherlands-flagged ship Blizzard will serve as the lead towing tug, while Resolve Earl will act as the main towing tug. Using 70 millimetre chains at a distance of 700-800 metres from the ship, the two tugs will pull the Concordia along at 2.5 knots per hour.
Stationed behind the vessels on either side of Concordia, Red Wolf and Garibaldo will serve as escort and fire fighting tugs, while Afon Cefni will provide environmental monitoring services during the journey. The helicopter-equipped, multipurpose vessel Fourcault will follow behind the tugs, providing a base for the technicians.
Following these vessels will be crane pontoon Ciciope, which will be used for monitoring by divers and will be towed by Franco P.
Located at the back and outside edge of the flotilla and equipped with absorbent booms, Armonia and Ievoli White, will provide oil spill response and environmental monitoring services.
Italian-flagged motorboat K4 will monitor the vessel and provide personnel transfer services, while the Voe Earl tug will serve as a multipurpose monitoring vessel. The skimming ship Acqua Azzura will monitor and recover any floating debris.
Sailing in front of the convoy will be Kidan, which will carry marine mammal observers equipped with Repcet satellite equipment to monitor the presence of cetaceans in the water.
ANSA also reported that a French navy ship specialised in pollution response is to sail with the convoy as it passes upper Corsica.
All of the vessels nvolved in the operation are registered in Vanuatu, the Netherlands, UK, Spain, Panama and Italy.