Update: Two More Bodies Found at Costa Concordia Wreck Site, Fuel Pumping Set to Begin
Italian officials say that salvage experts can start pumping fuel from the capsized Costa Concordia beginning on Tuesday to prevent any possible environmental disaster and that the ship is stable enough that the search for the missing may continue. Residents continue to express growing concern that the tar-like fuel could leak from the vessel’s 17 double-bottomed tanks.
The national civil protection agency made these decisions after instrument readings determined that the Concordia was not at risk of sliding into deeper waters. Also taking advantage of the calm seas, divers were able to recover the bodies of two more women near the ship’s internet café. This raises the confirmed number of victims to 15. 17 people are still unaccounted for, and now there are growing concerns of unregistered passengers onboard the cruise ship meaning the actual number of missing people may increase.
Seven bodies still await identification, but officials are committed to inspecting whatever can be inspected for as long as possible, according to the Associated Press reports.
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The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is still under house arrest near Naples and is being investigated for suspected manslaughter. His lawyer told reporters that alcohol and drug tests found that the captain was not under any sort of influence during or before the crash, although this cannot be officially confirmed.
Despite previous fears, the partially-submerged ship with a 230-foot gash in its hull is not expected to roll off the seabed. Its movements are currently responding to the tides and waves are expected to grow in the next couple days.
Italian admiral Dell’Anna predicts the fuel removal will take about 28 days to complete, without any interruptions. The first tank to be emptied will be the one above the waterline. Five miles of oil barriers have been set in the area to protect the marine life and waters off Giglio. Recovery experts from the Dutch salvage company, Smit, have previously said they will create holes in the top and the bottom of each tank, heating the fuel so it flows more easily and pumping from the top while forcing air in from the bottom. For the underwater tanks, sea water will be used to displace the fuel, which becomes thick and gooey when cooled.
SMIT has mobilized an oil tanker with emergency response equipment including sweeping arms, booms and a skimmer. This vessel has already arrived. The company also said Italian authorities have indicated it can begin the removal once a second absorbent boom is in place around the ship. The booms are used to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and to help make recovery easier.
Besides 2,200 metric tons of heavier fuel, there also are 185 metric tons of diesel and lubricants on board in addition to chemicals including cleaning products and chlorine.
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