Costa Concordia salvage under way
The operation to lift cruise liner Costa Concordia started on Monday (16.09.2013). The ship had been lying on its side since it hit a reef near the tiny Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 - 20 months ago.
Complex task
Efforts to raise the capsized Costa Concordia started on Monday morning (16.09.2013) after the operation had been postponed due to a storm. A complex system of pulleys, counterweights and huge chains is being used to raise the ship from its side by 65 degrees to a vertical position so that the ship can be towed. It's the first time this procedure has been tried on such a huge ship.
And... heave.
Salvage crews have to perform a complex operation known as "parbuckling" to raise the ship from outside Giglio harbor.
At a standstill - for 20 months
Since January 13, 2012, the ship - some 114,500 tons of steel - has been lying on a rock off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio. A floating container city for workers and enormous cranes has been put in place to bring the capsized vessel back to an upright position so it can be towed away for dismantling.
Costly and complex mission
The biggest salvage operation in maritime history is proceeding slowly. Experts say it will take longer and cost more than expected to remove the wreck. It's one of the most complex maritime salvage operations ever attempted - operator Costa Cruises estimates that the cost of salvaging the ship are standing at 600 million euros ($800 million) "and rising."
Tourist attraction
The wreck has become an attraction for tourists. Excursion boats transport visitors to Giglio to see the stricken ship. And even cruise ships sail past the half-sunken ship.
Sunbathing by the wreck
During the summer, vacationers crowded the many beaches of Giglio. The mayor, Sergio Ortelli, is happy that the island hasn't suffered economically as a result of the disaster. But the shock still runs deep - 32 people were killed in the accident.
Trapped below deck
Rescue workers, like this diver in the dining room, scoured the ship for survivors after the Costa Concordia ran aground. As many as 4,267 passengers and crew members were able to save themselves by getting into lifeboats or swimming ashore. Those who died were trapped below deck.
Captain lands in court
Save yourself if you can! At least, that's what the captain of the ship, Francesco Schettino, said for himself. He left before the passengers in a lifeboat - he has been put on trial. The Costa Concordia was steered too close to shore and hit a rock. Schettino has come to be known as "Captain Coward" in the Italian press.
Shipping industry sails on
The booming cruise ship industry has not suffered from the incident. Though tour operators posted declines in bookings in January 2012, the companies recorded double-digit growth for the whole year.
Learning from the accident
Germany's ADAC organization certified most cruise ships with safety equipment and professional crews. But some problems have been identified - exercises for evacuating passengers are only carried out superficially, and bulkheads that are supposed to prevent ships from taking on water at sea are not always closed.