By
Michele Witthaus |
Dutch firm SMIT Salvage has announced that it has begun the process of removing oil from the Costa Concordia.
The company, which was appointed along with local partner Tito Nerito to remove bunker oil from the stranded ship, said that this initial operation was focused on the forward fuel tanks of the vessel. A sealable flange system has been installed on four of the six forward fuel tanks so far, with plans to prepare the remaining tanks as operations continue.
Smit said that the first tank to be connected to the pumps is relatively small and located on the port side of the Concordia. Thanks to a favourable weather forecast, the firm said it expects to be able to continue pumping around the clock as long as the good weather conditions continue.