Posted on Monday, June 18, 2012 by Peter Knego
COSTA CONCORDIA at Giglio. Photo by Mike Tattoli 2012.
Globe-trotting ship enthusiast Mike Tattoli was in Italy this past week and took a side trip to Isola del Giglio where the wreck of COSTA CONCORDIA still lies, awaiting salvage. Mike was kind enough to share his photos and and a brief recap with MaritimeMatters.
COSTA CONCORDIA at Giglio. Photo by Mike Tattoli 2012.
“We took the ferry from the picturesque Porto Santo Stefano in Tuscany. During the 50 minute trip to Giglio, the ship starts coming into focus and my first impression was that it was a long white factory. You have to go right by the CONCORDIA as you enter the small, gorgeous port of Giglio. As I took in this surreal scene, I was thinking, ‘What a waste!’
COSTA CONCORDIA at Giglio. Photo by Mike Tattoli 2012.
There was no evident attempt to paint over her name or disguise her. CONCORDIA was surrounded by an oil skimming boom and her once immaculate semi-gloss white paint was faded and streaked with rust. Having been submerged for 6 months, the bow had a greenish/blackish moss forming around it. There was no evidence of petrol or contaminants in the water, which was as pristine as ever. The ship and many parts of it seemed to be frozen at the time of the strike — equipment was covered and deck chairs were tethered to their posts. The angle of the list was evident as doors that were not secured were open to the starboard side. The port bridge wing and navigation console where photos of (ex Captain) Schettino were taken, were untouched & above the fray.
COSTA CONCORDIA at Giglio. Photo by Mike Tattoli 2012.
Two un-launched port side life boats were still secured to the vessel, making one wonder why they waited. The Jacob’s ladder where so many people climbed down the side of the ship is still in place. Omni-present was the reason for the sinking: the enormous gash in her port side and a boulder that jutted from the engine room as if it were trying to escape. But what was most baffling is that the stabilizer was on the same plane & received no damage.
COSTA CONCORDIA at Giglio. Photo by Mike Tattoli 2012.
Overall, the CONCORDIA looked lifeless, like a doomed ship trying to fight the elements — reminiscent of the photos of DUILIO and GIULIO CESARE at Muggia (near Trieste) at the end of World War Two, just waiting to be raised & dismantled. I just could not believe my eyes — it was sad, like she wore a death mask of faded paint and ever-increasing rust.”
Mike Tattoli with the COSTA CONCORDIA at Giglio.
With very special thanks to Mike Tattoli
Glenn L.
June 18, 2012 at 4:03 am
Thanks for sharing, great photos. It will really be something to see her refloated after being partially submerged after all this time. I’ve read that the rock was estimated to weigh 80 tons! I believe that the stabilizers were deployed after the strike as the volume of water rushing in made the ship unstable. The port anchor was also released when she came to rest.
Bob Graham
June 18, 2012 at 4:59 am
Might the stabilizer have deployed automatically following the impact in response to the increasing list?
I had expected to see salvage activity around the vessel.
Altogether, a very depressing sight. The testimonial phase of the wreck investigation should make for a real media circus.
Kenneth Eden
June 18, 2012 at 5:05 am
How utterly sad to see this magnificent ship wasting away and looking sadder with each passing hour.
Mike has presented the best pictures of the ship to date, up close and personal, and superbly done, the best that I have seen.
Nothing – not even these great photos – can truly convey the sadness that will live on forever, the losss of those passengers, whose lives were lost in such a short passage of time.
Thanks Mike for sharing.
Dave in NJ
June 18, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Bob Graham said: “I had expected to see salvage activity around the vessel.”
I’ve been checking the Giglio webcam more or less weekly; for the first time this week I’ve actually seen some signs of activity at the site.
Charlie Smith
June 18, 2012 at 5:08 pm
I believe that in the third photo (the bow) one can see the four legged barge in the background (with the crane aboard). This is being used for the survey and I presume for setting the cable anchors.
On the starboard side, one of the satellite domes appears to have been removed, and since these photos were taken, the sculpture or decoration atop the penthouse cabins seems to have been removed
Bruce
June 18, 2012 at 5:21 pm
You can keep track of the salvage at http://thelastsalute.eu/ The webcam only works in daylight hours.
Glenn L.
June 18, 2012 at 7:24 pm
To correct myself: The starboard anchor was released.
The ships bell was stolen by divers, It may be possible that the statue was stolen as well. It was a miracle that more lives were not lost. I never thought I would see a sight like this in my lifetime.
John F. Pepper
June 18, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Painting over her name would be rather silly, would it not? She is who she is, and no attempt to hide that would be successful. Sad she’s laid there this long, no attempt to reanimate her, recover her.
Michael Tattoli
June 19, 2012 at 12:28 am
I should add that there is a small part of the coast that runs perpendicular to Concordia. The salvage barge and equipment including large towers which seem to be embedded in the rock of Giglio are omni present but only visible in one of the photo’s. They are like a gathering army that is getting ready to assault the vessel.
Ally
June 19, 2012 at 2:24 am
They are already trimming her down…the mast has gone, the waterslide has gone, the loungers have gone and the funnel is said to be going too so that she is relatively level on top for righting. All of her cabling and everything else that could snag the salvor’s equipment has also been removed and the remainder of the two magradomes are to go aswell.
Kenneth Eden
June 19, 2012 at 5:48 am
The Euro is a mess, and Italy is bound with that currency.
Has anyone or any body heard anything about a shrine or memorial at the sight for the lost passengers and crew?
I don’t think the Euro would support it financially.
David L. NYC
June 19, 2012 at 9:41 am
So, she really isn’t being raised intact after all. I knew that was nonsense from the start.
Ally
June 19, 2012 at 11:39 am
Apparently, though I have yet to get it confirmed officially, the 80 tonne rock in her side is to be placed where she currently lays and will become a formal memorial to the 32 who died.
I have also been reading on John Heald’s Facebook page that he has had passengers on Carnival Breeze asking if the ship will pass Giglio as they wanted to see the wreck…pretty tasteless IMHO, but that is human nature…it comes in all types & tastes…
M. D. BARLOW
June 19, 2012 at 4:32 pm
HI MICHAEL…GREAT PICTURES. BEST I HAVE SEEN SINCE THIS HAPPENED. YOU REALLY GET AROUND THE WORLD. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WONDERFUL PICTURES.
Avery Boyer
June 20, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Interesting to see work starting at last. Not at all surprised the top deck is being cleared for the salvage operation. As far as passengers wanting to see the wreck, can’t say I really blame them, it’s not a sight we are likely to see again any time soon.
captgeo
June 22, 2012 at 9:45 am
Looks like a big barge and big crane arrived today; hope those “in the know” about what is happening will share with the rest of us.
Charlie Smith
June 23, 2012 at 11:41 am
Removal operations begin for Costa Concordia cruise liner17:03 18 GIU 2012
Florence- Removal operations began today for some parts of the Costa Concordia cruise ship. The latter ran aground near Italy’s Giglio Island. The Civil Protection Department has announced that preparatory measures include cutting down the mast, to be followed in the coming days by the removal of the swimming pool slide and the giant ‘C’, which stood for the company name, in order to make space for a floating platform.
http://www.agi.it/english-version/italy/elenco-notizie/201206181703-cro-ren1084-removal_operations_begin_for_costa_concordia_cruise_liner
Charlie Smith
June 23, 2012 at 11:50 am
Costa Concordia salvage team brings in Microperi 61 platform
By Marcus Hondro Jun 15, 2012 in World
A platform, the Microperi 61, has arrived on scene at the island of Giglio to help refloat the stricken Costa Concordia. The platform has arms to work undersea and set up scaffolding to build a foundation to keep the ship stable.
The platform is a rectangle and 40.5 meters by 28.65 meters. It has 4 ‘legs’, each 47 meters by 1.8 meters in diameter, which can be extended down into the sea to a depth’ of 32 meters. The goal is to block the ship from sliding downward and then attach…
http://digitaljournal.com/article/326737
Charlie Smith
June 23, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Costa Cruises releases time-line for Costa Concordia refloat
By Marcus Hondro Jun 18, 2012 in World
. . . dates and jobs expected to be done by them: site inspection is ongoing through July 31; “securing and stabilizing” the ship until August 31; installing and stabilizing of caissons (watertight chambers) and building marine platforms by Nov. 15; installing what De Musso called ‘boxes’ on the right side of the ship by Dec. 1; up-righting the ship by Jan. 15 and towing it to an Italian port by Jan. 31.. . .
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/326867
Charlie Smith
June 23, 2012 at 12:45 pm
The GiglioNews Has a very nice webcam with a wider angle than “The Last Salute”. One can always see the legged platform to the North (Left) of Costa Concordia, although in less detail.
http://www.giglionews.it/2010022440919/webcam/isola-del-giglio/webcam-giglio-porto-panoramica.html
ombugge
June 24, 2012 at 3:09 am
Active stabilizers like seen here only work when the ship is making way through the water.
Passive stabilizing tanks works even if the ship is dead in the water and need no power supply, but aggravate the situation if the vessel develops a permanent list.
The reason why the stabilizer fin was not damaged in the collision with the rocks is that the ship was turning hard to Stbd. at time of impact, thus bringing the stern to Port.
Kenneth Eden
June 24, 2012 at 6:07 am
Thanks Charlie Smith for the webcam, it is just wonderful.
Ken
Patti L.
June 27, 2012 at 12:07 pm
To help explain why the stabilizer isn’t damaged…a ship doesn’t turn like a car where the rear generally follows the front. To illustrate how a ship turns, pick up a pen and hold it in your left hand with two fingers (preferably thumb and index fingers). Your pen is now your “ship” with the writing end / pointy end as the “bow”. Your fingers should be located about one third of the total “ship” length from the “bow” and have the “bow” pointing to the right. Now slide your “ship” slowly “forward”, from left to right, parallel along the bottom of your keyboard, bottom edge of your laptop, long side of your Smart phone, etc. At some point go, “Oh cr*p, I’m too close to shore!” and turn your “ship” sharply away from the keyboard, etc. You’ll notice that as “bow” is turning away from the keyboard, etc., the “stern” is turning towards the keyboard, etc. So in relation to the “Costa Concordia”, I believe that the ship turned away just in time to miss tearing off the stabilizer. But, you’ll notice that the gash starts shallow and goes deeper into the side of the ship. So as the ship is moving forward, the turning stern meets the rock. The momentum of ship continues to press it into the rock until the momentum diminishes enough to stop the stern from turning. But the momentum of the ship moving forward is enough to dislodge the rock. In addition, this momentum is enough for the ship to continue to move forward and drift slightly away from the island. This is just my ranting and is not supported or approved by anyone other than me. (-;
Phil C
June 28, 2012 at 4:23 am
Thanks for the pics. It will be interesting to see what reports arise concerning how badly her hull is damaged.
Plenty worse have been raised, refitted and put back into service…good work for the Italian yards.
Kenneth Eden
July 8, 2012 at 4:34 am
We, in the States, have been bombarded this past week with televised specials about the CONCORDIA.
Personally I have avoided watching them, to painful to see. However, I have seen long “trailers” in which they have shown personal accounts from the passenger and or crews perspective, via cell, camera or other means of video, and these videos are chilling, violent and the sound portion is truly frightening. What I did observe is these true accounts make the “Poesidon Adventure” look almost tame by comparison.
Another TV show will be tonight on CNN for those interested.
captgeo
August 4, 2012 at 4:31 am
Pity — “The Last Salute” web-cam has been turned off; no more close-up pictures of the Costa Concordia salvage efforts. The Giglio Porto panoramic camera is still on, but the wreck is in the distance.
Regards, captgeo
Fascinated
August 8, 2012 at 5:26 am
I have been following events since the crash back in January, not for any morbid reasons, just because the idea of raising a ship that large and in one piece is probably one the greatest maritime engineering projects ever undertaken. I have been searching high and low for progress photos but there is nothing official. Good photos can be found here
https://plus.google.com/photos/115893768571611039178/albums?banner=pwa
and
http://lnx.eurecoservizi.com/eureco/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=53&Itemid=14&lang=it
The rock is all gone and they have boarded up the windows.