Wreck Removal Officials Update Giglio Citizens on Costa Concordia Salvage Operation
A general meeting was held with the citizens of the island of Giglio to share the progress on the wreck removal of the stricken Costa Concordia.
During the meeting, led by the President of the Observatory, Maria Sargentini, participants were updated on the various activities being carried out on the future phases of the project and the timing for the removal of the wreck, already presented and shared by representatives of the Consortium Titan-Micoperi with all members of the Observatory. Such a complex operation cannot necessarily be timed for an exact date of completion. It is also reasonable to assume that there may be suspension of activities due to adverse weather or sea conditions, or other unforeseeable obstacles. A schedule has been updated on the basis of progress and the plan is for the wreck to be removed by the end of summer 2013.
The Observatory has requested that specific documentation of the assessments that led to the revised established schedule be provided within the first ten days of January 2013.
Officials asked Costa Crociere and the Consortium to further focus on preventive measures and emergency plans, especially for environmental issues. They are required to be prepared to ensure their effectiveness and immediate availability if faced with emergency conditions.
Activities are proceeding persistently. There are currently about 400 workers, technicians and divers working in the yard day and night, 7 days a week, with about 20 support vessels. Citizens of Giglio were also reassured of continuous and constant environmental monitoring, to prevent any impact on the ecosystem, marine and terrestrial.
Currently, however, there was no discernable damage to the environment.
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