The wreck of the Costa Concordia, the enormous cruise ship that crashed near the Italian coast in a disaster that killed 32 people in 2012, was successfully refloated today in preparation for towing and scrapping. From the Guardian:
Air was pumped slowly into 30 tanks or “sponsons” attached to both sides of the 290-metre, 114,500-tonne Concordia to expel the water inside, raising it two metres (6.5 feet) off the artificial platform it has rested on since it was righted in September.
It will now be towed away from the shore and moored using anchors and cables. Thirty-six steel cables and 56 chains will hold the sponsons in place.
Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino, who was infamously accused of abandoning ship before rescue operations were completed, is on trial for several charges related to the wreck.
