Ferries and passenger shipping

[Nick]

Meanwhile, back at Giglio island, the project to remove the Costa Concordia has reached its 85% milestone. It will still take a few months to complete.

http://www.theparbucklingproject.com/

[Nick]

Just 3 weeks now until the Costa Concordia will be refloated and towed away, probably to Genoa.

Press release: http://www.theparbucklingproject.com..._press_release

[Nick]

The salvage team are reporting that the draught of the refloated Costa Concordia will be approximately 18.5 meters [in American: the draft will be about 60 feet].
This is still quite low in the water. Dutch news organisations report that towing it will take 4-5 days, and that Greenpeace is ready to protest or even block it with the Rainbow Warrior (saying that such a long tow is an unnecessary hazard), but I could not find any confirmation directly from Greenpeace.

[kladner]

Wow, that is sitting deep. I hope that those in charge plan carefully around the weather.

What are the current legal moves in the case?

[Nick]

Originally Posted by kladner

Wow, that is sitting deep. I hope that those in charge plan carefully around the weather.

What are the current legal moves in the case?

The trial of the captain will resume at the end of September according to Italian news:
http://www.gonews.it/2014/07/04/conc.../#.U7bf5eP950o

The following article is 6 months old but still worth reading (in my opinion):
http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2014/01...uncompensated/

[Nick]

South Korea ferry 'sank due to negligence, corruption'

An interim South Korea government report says the 16 April sinking of the Sewol ferry was partly due to government negligence and corruption.
It cited lax regulation, poor safety inspections and a slow and badly-coordinated coast guard response as factors that led to the disaster.
Eleven officials have been referred to prosecutors on corruption charges and dozens more face possible legal action.
The ferry sinking killed 304 passengers, most of whom were students.
A total of 293 bodies have been recovered and 11 passengers remain unaccounted for. Search operations are still continuing.

Full press article: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28205785

[Nick]

The refloating of the Costa Concordia will begin next Monday (14 July), weather permitting.

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Nick

The refloating of the Costa Concordia will begin next Monday (14 July), weather permitting.

An amazing engineering feat. I applaud (and watch vicariously) those doing this work.

What I find most interesting is this is going to cost more than the building of the Hoover Dam (inflation considered), all because of the stupidity, ineptitude and hubris of one man (or, at least, a few men).

Hmmmm....

[BudgieJane]

Originally Posted by chalsall

What I find most interesting is this is going to cost more than the building of the Hoover Dam (inflation considered), all because of the stupidity, ineptitude and hubris of one man (or, at least, a few men).

Hmmmm....

That could be said of a few wars, too.

[Nick]

At 6 o'clock on Monday morning (local time), it all starts:

The refloating operation is planned to start at 6 am on Monday, July 14. During the first stage, the Concordia will be refloated about 2 meters up off the platforms and moved 30 meters towards the east with the assistance of tugs. The ship will then be securely moored and technicians will be able to complete the attachment and tensioning of the last cables and chains, and to lower the starboard sponsons to their final position. The actual refloating will then begin, raising the ship one deck at a time, from deck 6 to deck 3. The whole operation is expected to take about 6 or 7 days to complete. The departure of the Concordia from Giglio is currently scheduled for July 21.

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Nick

At 6 o'clock on Monday morning (local time), it all starts:

Many of us look forward to hearing how it goes.

This should have never have happened, but it did.