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Costa Concordia salvage operation begins Costa Concordia in Italy freed from rocks
(35 minutes later)
One of the largest and most daunting salvage operations ever undertaken is under way with an attempt to pull the shipwrecked Costa Concordia upright. Engineering officials in Italy say they have succeeded in lifting the cruise ship Costa Concordia free of the rocks, 20 months after it ran aground.
The operation was delayed for three hours because of an overnight storm, but began at 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT). The salvage operation to right the ship, one of the largest and most daunting ever undertaken, is expected to last up to 12 hours.
Righting the cruise ship is expected to take up to 12 hours. The ship was detached from the rocks and moved on to a platform constructed on the sea bed, officials said.
Engineers have never tried to lift such a huge ship so close to land. Thirty-two people died when it hit rocks. Thirty-two people died when the cruise ship ran aground off the Tuscan coast.
A senior engineering official says the Costa Concordia still has not broken free of the rocks on which she is lying, the BBC's Alan Johnston reports from the scene. The bodies of two of those killed in the January 2012 disaster have never been found. There are hopes that they may be found during the operation, although officials said on Monday there was no sign of them so far.
The bodies of two of the dead, a passenger and a crew member, have never been recovered and may be found during the operation. Engineers have never tried to lift such a huge ship so close to land. The ship could be seen emerging from the water as operators worked to hoist it upright.
The Italian Civil Protection Authority said the sea and weather conditions had mostly been right for the attempt. The Italian Civil Protection Authority said the sea and weather conditions had mostly been right for the attempt, but the operation had to be delayed by three hours because of an overnight storm.
The storm overnight on Sunday delayed the positioning of a barge carrying a remote control room close to the shipwreck. The storm delayed the positioning of a barge carrying a remote control room close to the shipwreck.
From that room, engineers will work using pulleys and counterweights to move the Concordia from the steep underwater incline it is resting on. From that room, engineers were working using pulleys and counterweights to move the Concordia from the steep underwater incline it is resting on.
Sergio Girotto, an engineer working on the project, told reporters on Monday the operation was going ahead smoothly. Sergio Girotto, an engineer working on the project, told reporters on Monday the operation was going smoothly.
"Everything is going according to plan, we are following the plan to sequence... There is no problem whatsoever.""Everything is going according to plan, we are following the plan to sequence... There is no problem whatsoever."
He added that once the operation had been going for a couple of hours, "we should be able to see something with the naked eye".
The ship capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012.The ship capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012.
The vessel has been lying on its side ever since.The vessel has been lying on its side ever since.
Salvage workers are attaching giant metal chains and cables to the ship, which weighs more than 114,000 tonnes and is roughly the length of three football fields.Salvage workers are attaching giant metal chains and cables to the ship, which weighs more than 114,000 tonnes and is roughly the length of three football fields.
Five people have already been convicted of manslaughter over the disaster, and the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, is currently on trial accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship.Five people have already been convicted of manslaughter over the disaster, and the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, is currently on trial accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship.
Officials say that they still need to make preparations for the salvage operation which they were planning to do on Sunday night before the storm.
Huge challengeHuge challenge
The salvage operation had been due to begin at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Monday.The salvage operation had been due to begin at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Monday.
"Due to heavy storms tonight, the operation has been put back by two hours," to 08:00 (06:00 GMT) civil protection chief Franco Gabrieli said. "Due to heavy storms tonight, the operation has been put back by two hours," to 08:00 (06:00 GMT) civil protection chief Franco Gabrielli said.
The BBC's Alan Johnston at the scene of the operation says that everything about the project is on a colossal scale.The BBC's Alan Johnston at the scene of the operation says that everything about the project is on a colossal scale.
More than 50 enormous chains and winches will be used to roll the ship - twice as heavy as the Titanic - up onto her keel.More than 50 enormous chains and winches will be used to roll the ship - twice as heavy as the Titanic - up onto her keel.
By the end of Monday it should be sitting on a specially prepared underwater platform of steel and concrete.By the end of Monday it should be sitting on a specially prepared underwater platform of steel and concrete.
Our correspondent says that only after the ship is back up on her keel will it be possible to inspect it fully and begin to plan the next stage - the effort to repair and re-float it - and eventually tow it away to be destroyed.Our correspondent says that only after the ship is back up on her keel will it be possible to inspect it fully and begin to plan the next stage - the effort to repair and re-float it - and eventually tow it away to be destroyed.
The head of the operation, Nick Sloane, told AFP news agency that it was now or never for the Costa Concordia, because the hull was gradually weakening and might not survive another winter.The head of the operation, Nick Sloane, told AFP news agency that it was now or never for the Costa Concordia, because the hull was gradually weakening and might not survive another winter.
Engineers will try to roll the ship up using cables and the weight of water contained in huge metal boxes welded to the ship's sides - a process called parbuckling.Engineers will try to roll the ship up using cables and the weight of water contained in huge metal boxes welded to the ship's sides - a process called parbuckling.
This procedure must be done very slowly to prevent further damage to the hull, which has spent more than 18 months partially submerged in 15 metres (50ft) of water and fully exposed to the elements.This procedure must be done very slowly to prevent further damage to the hull, which has spent more than 18 months partially submerged in 15 metres (50ft) of water and fully exposed to the elements.
If the operation goes wrong, environmentalists warn that toxic substances could leak out into the sea. But booms and nets are in place to try to catch anything that emerges from the wreck.If the operation goes wrong, environmentalists warn that toxic substances could leak out into the sea. But booms and nets are in place to try to catch anything that emerges from the wreck.
For the people of Giglio, the salvage operation will be an important moment. A special prayer was said during Sunday Mass.For the people of Giglio, the salvage operation will be an important moment. A special prayer was said during Sunday Mass.
Giglio mayor Sergio Ortelli said that the removal of the ship would bring an end to "a huge problem that we have in our port and that we want to solve as soon as we can".Giglio mayor Sergio Ortelli said that the removal of the ship would bring an end to "a huge problem that we have in our port and that we want to solve as soon as we can".
"Islanders can't wait to see the back of it," he said."Islanders can't wait to see the back of it," he said.
The small island's economy depends hugely on tourism and the presence of the wreck has discouraged visitors.The small island's economy depends hugely on tourism and the presence of the wreck has discouraged visitors.
The salvage project has so far cost more than 600m euros ($800m; £500m) and is expected to cost a lot more before the operation is complete.The salvage project has so far cost more than 600m euros ($800m; £500m) and is expected to cost a lot more before the operation is complete.