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Costa Concordia sinks off the coast of Italy

Discussion in 'YachtForums Yacht Club' started by Fishtigua, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

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    Is this really how they are going to carry her? (Boskalis)

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  2. Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

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    I suppose it would be possible:

    Dockwise Vanguard will have deck space of 275.00 x 70.00 meters.

    The Concordia is 292.2 meters overall x 35.5 meters wide.
  3. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    I just came back from Hampton Roads where I saw this. Should imagine the same thing would work fine for the Costa Concordia.

    IMG_4033.JPG
  4. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    I read somewhere that a part of the £30 million contract will be to modify the ship to support the over hanging part.
  5. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

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    Well Dockwise Vanguard is essentially a moving floating dock that can submerge I guess.
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    That is true. BUT, how much weight can it safely carry. That cruise ship is pretty darn heavy when you consider how tall it is. A lot heavier than a deckful of yachts. Not to mention how much water will be trapped in various compartments on the cruise ship.
  7. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    If I recall, the plan is to use the sponsons that they attached to the sides
    to float the vessel while it is towed to a nearby port for dismantling.
    The only thing that might change that plan is the amount of damage to the starboard side. It will be interesting if they can still do that now that they realize the extent of the damage.
  8. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    117,000 MT According to this article.

    Dockwise Vanguard to Lift Costa Concordia from Giglio | ******** ? Maritime & Offshore News

    The height of this or any vessel is only one component of the equation that makes up the volume, the actual deadweight tonnage which this wreck can be considered to be is something a bit different.

    I can't find any photos of this vessel carrying yachts so not sure this is really a valid observation.


    It might come as a surprise but the salvage operation to date has been conducted by professionals and so far they have done a pretty good job, I don't see the calculation and execution of the next phase and what's involved as being beyond them regardless of how wet the carpets and drapes are.
  9. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    The worst of the damage is to the aluminum superstructure and shouldn't matter much. The caissons on the port side are welded to the steel hull even though the extend higher. The starboard side caissons will also be welded to steel. I think they will still be able to float it and tow it to Italy. From what I read the numbers between breaking it up in place and floating it and towing it away were very close with the float it and tow it option just barely being the least likely to further harm the environment.
  10. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Most of the ship will remain submerged anyway. They are planning to float just enough of it to tow it away.
  11. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    Where did this DockWise scenario come from?
    Every document I've seen has this ship being towed out on her own bottom.
  12. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    From the article:

    Once loaded, the Dockwise Vanguard will transport the wreckage to an as of yet undecided location where it will be offloaded -either by float off or “skid off,” meaning transferred directly to a pier- and eventually scrapped. Original plans called for the Costa Concordia to be refloated and towed to a port in Italy for demolition, but by using the Dockwise Vanguard, once the ship is loaded, the options for scrapping are wide open.

    is probably as good a reason as any and as yet it is not confirmed this is going to actually happen so it remains to be seen exactly what happens to the wreck before the gas torches and plasma cutters arrive in force.
  13. Chasm

    Chasm Senior Member

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    This started with reports a two(?) weeks ago that the salvage company paid Dockwise a $22 million retainer.
    Dockwise Vanguard does not have bow structures like the other semi submersibles have. (Think aircraft carrier as far as the load platform goes.) The idea is to carry loads longer than the ship itself.

    The top of Vanguards deck can be submersed 16 meters. (AFAIK also a new record.) Costa Concordia has a nominal draft of 8m but rests at 30m.
    I suppose that the main reasons are twofold, you don't have to rise the Costa quite as far before you can support it on the load platform and do the rest as part of Vanguards lift process. (Lower center of gavity, less chance to tip the thing over.) Also the speed of the Vanguard should be much higher than towing the Costa Concordia, which in turn should reduces the weather risk significantly.

    Edit: And yes, that also means that you have more options as far as salvage ports go.
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2013
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    KIWI, I understand they are professionals and I agree to date they have done a great job. However, this is way beyond the scope of anything that has really been done before. Quite frankly if it sank 1/2 a mile further offshore from where it is sitting, it would've been left there. I think if it was a US Navy ship instead of a cruise ship, that the US Navy with all of their resources would most likely have destroyed it in place. But who knows. I think the time table has been a little long, but weather and the scope of the project may have determined that.
  15. wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Well does look like they are seriously considering the Dockwise Vanguard as an option to towing:

    Giant heavy lift ship is secured as an option to remove Concordia wreck

    I agree raising the Concordia completely out of the water does bring a different set of problems than just floating her enough to tow her. It does give them the option of taking her to any breaking yard in the world and would be a powerful decision factor.
  16. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Yep; sleezeball. Yep; coward. Yep; liar. Yep; Derelict.
    I don't see how she had any part of the ship coming to close to the coast, grounding and sinking. Unless, she was THE distraction.
    Then knowingly boinking the married captain, causing a distraction, is she responsible any?
    She had a baby????

    The inquiring mind thing again, sorry..
  18. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    If he lied to investigators about one thing.......
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Yep; He's a proven liar.
    But was he asked if he was boinking some stupid blond when the ship hit that pinnacle? Mind you, I'm certainly not defending the s#$ head, but a romance with a dancer may not be all that relevant, unless,, he was,,.
    And when your caught with you ship down (and pants), what else can you do to him? Geez, he's embarrassed himself so much already (radio transcripts). Never got back on board that I understand. For sure lost any support from wife, family & corporate.
    I don't understand why he just does not not shut up, lay down, bend over for a few years and find a new career shining shoes.
    He's going to jail, Ben...
    Do they want to call up a firing squad? Maybe proper, but don't think that's in mind.
    Skippers jumping ship way to early has happened (twice that I know of) to many times. Example in a firing squad may be a good idea afterall...
  20. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Nah, a piece of arse during the voyage should not put the toy-ship on the rocks. Too many other factors in play, the major one of course is incompetence and stupidity on the bridge a few minutes before the grounding.

    Let the news media speculate that sex at sea will surely lead to disaster and by God, the blond bimbo from Moldavia should be responsible because she distracted the Master and Commander and by God she should stand trial..:rolleyes: