Technically speaking there are challenges with the chains holding 800 ton sponsons (metal flotation tanks) that will refloat Concordia, to enable it to be towed. Repairs are necessary before the vessel can be moved. We now understand that one of the damaged sponsons has been transported from the Concordia wreck to Genoa on the Italian mainland, where it is undergoing repairs. The other is being repaired on site.
There were actually 11 sponsons positioned on Concordia's port side prior to the ship's 'parbuckling' in September, when the 114,000 ton vessel was rolled into an upright position and lowered onto an underwater platform. Now another 19 sponsons are needed to refloat the ship.
Titan Micoperi, the salvage operator performing the Concordia removal, has successfully installed four sponsons and is scheduled to install a fifth today soon, according to Concordia Wreck Removal.
In addition to the sponsons, planning progress came to a halt in late April when the Monitoring Observatory requested that further risk assessments.
The new deadline for the refloating completion is July 18th, however it’s known by all that sponson related installation operations are always complex and also weather sensitive; this is why the schedule is updated on a weekly basis. The eventual destination and ultimate resting place for the Concordia’s scrap operation still requires confirmation.
