The refloat of cruise ship MS Costa Concordia has been described as the biggest and most complex wreck removal project ever. The Costa Concordia sunk at the coast of the Italian Isola del Giglio on January 13, 2012. The 114,500 tons wreck rested on very steep granite rocks and she threatened to break through high waves and ‘Halloween storms’ on the Mediterranean. The biggest threat was that thousands of tons of serious pollution and waste could end in nature reserves. The wreck removal demanded the greatest dedication, safety and technical ability. During a public tender, American TITAN Salvage (Ardent Global) and Italian Micoperi were selected and contracted for the job. The wreck was refloated and towed to Port of Genova in July 2014, for further demolishing and recycling.
One of the biggest maritime wreck operations in history > The Washington Post
The size of the project in numbers
The newest salvage techniques and ballast control systems were used for the parbuckling and refloating of the wreck. The ballast control system was being used for the digital (wireless) control and monitoring of all the systems, control rooms, vessels and constructions, during the parbuckling, refloating and towage of the wreck. Walhout Civil delivered a wide range of services, from survey support to engineering subsea equipment, offshore control rooms, piping systems and the ballast control system.
Our activities: engineering, detailing and commissioning of several (steel) constructions, subsea monitoring systems and the ballast control system. Assistance in Italy during various operations, salvage, offshore and diving activities, parbuckling (wreck rotation) and the refloat operation.
