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Costa Concordia in Italy freed from rocks Costa Concordia in Italy freed from rocks
(35 minutes later)
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. Engineering officials in Italy say they have succeeded in lifting the cruise ship Costa Concordia free of rocks, 20 months after it ran aground.
The salvage operation to right the ship, one of the largest and most daunting ever undertaken, is expected to last up to 12 hours. Efforts to right the ship, one of the largest and most daunting salvage operations ever undertaken, are expected to last up to 12 hours.
The ship was detached from the rocks and moved on to a platform constructed on the sea bed, officials said. The ship has been detached from rocks and moved on to a platform constructed on the sea bed, officials said.
Thirty-two people died when the cruise ship ran aground off the Tuscan coast. Thirty-two people died when the ship ran aground off the Tuscan coast.
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 those killed in the January 2012 disaster, by the island of Giglio, have never been found. There are hopes that they may be located during the operation, although officials said on Monday there was no sign of them so far.
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. Engineers have never tried to lift such a huge ship so close to land.
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 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 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 were working using pulleys and counterweights to move the Concordia from the steep underwater incline it is resting on. From that room, engineers were 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 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."
The ship capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in January 2012. The ship could be seen emerging from the water as operators worked to hoist it upright.
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.
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.
Huge challengeHuge challenge
The salvage operation had been due to begin at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Monday. The BBC's Alan Johnston, at the scene of the operation, says that everything about the project is on a colossal scale.
"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. Salvage workers have attached giant metal chains and cables to the ship, which weighs more than 114,000 tonnes and is roughly the length of three football fields.
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 are being 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. Engineers will try to roll the ship up using the cables and the weight of water contained in huge metal boxes welded to the ship's sides - a process called parbuckling.
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.
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.
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. By the end of Monday, it should be sitting on a specially prepared underwater platform of steel and concrete.
For the people of Giglio, the salvage operation will be an important moment. A special prayer was said during Sunday Mass. 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 the 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.
If the operation goes wrong, environmentalists warn that toxic substances could leak out into the sea. Booms and nets are in place to try to catch anything that emerges from the wreck.
Five people have been convicted of manslaughter over the disaster, and the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, is currently on trial accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship.
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.
On Sunday, prayers for the operation were said during Sunday Mass on the island.
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 much more before the operation is complete.