Costa Concordia refloated before being hauled away for scrap

Authorities expressed satisfaction that the 
operation to float the 
Concordia from an 
underwater platform had proceeded without a hitch.

Technicians were 
preparing to shift it some 30 meters and then anchor the massive cruise ship before ending the day's operations.

The entire operation to remove the Concordia from the reef and float it to Genova, where it will be scrapped, will cost a total of €1.5bn, Costa Crociere SpA CEO Michael Tamm told reporters.

The heavily-listing ship was dragged upright in a daring manoeuvre last September, and then 
crews fastened huge tanks to its flanks to float it. Towing is set to begin July 21.

It's about 320km to Genova and the trip is expected to take five days.

"The operation (Monday) began well, but it will be completed only when we have finished the transport to Genova," Italian 
Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti said.

jailed

Concordia's Italian 
captain, Francesco 
Schettino, is being tried in Tuscany for manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship before all were evacuated.

The ship hit a reef near the island of Giglio in January 2012 and capsized.

He denies the charges, which could see him jailed for up to 20 years.

hnews@herald.ie