Costa Concordia Could Be Raised Upright in September

The Costa Concordia, which has remained capsized near the Italian island of Giglio since Jan. 13, 2012, could be rotated upright sometime in September. That’s the latest update from Costa Crociere and Titan-Micoperi, the salvage experts.

The exact date has not been determined, but Nick Sloane, the South African overseeing the project, is confident the maneuver will work, he told CBS News. The operation, called “parbuckling,” will take about eight to 10 hours, and the salvagers will be listening and watching closely to microphones and cameras installed throughout the ship.

“There will be a lot of noise, and it’s important that we listen to the different sections,” Sloane told CBS. “We can take measures and make adjustments depending on any twist and torsion on the ship. We are confident the ship will be coming upright and know the first 20 degrees of rotation are critical. It’s going to be a long, nerve-wracking day.”

Once the ship is upright, it will take another eight to 10 months before the ship can be removed and towed away.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/costa-concordia-could-be-raised-upright-in-september.html