# Any chance they can get the grounded Italian ship back upright? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541 "2012-01-14T23:02:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/181 "2013-09-14T14:08:58Z")
A more recent pic: [Costa Concordia Wreck Seen From The Air In Impressive Photo | HuffPost The World Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/13/costo-concordia-wreck-photo_n_3922702.html) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/182 "2013-09-15T18:07:50Z")
They’ll try to pull the ship upright tomorrow: [http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/15/3628337/italy-ok-to-right-shipwrecked.html](http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/15/3628337/italy-ok-to-right-shipwrecked.html) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/183 "2013-09-16T06:39:09Z")
[Live link](http://live.reuters.com/Event/Raising_the_Costa_Concordia) ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/184 "2013-09-16T11:49:26Z")
After some five hours of pulling on the cables she has visibly rolled over a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/185 "2013-09-16T13:35:39Z")
Most boring video ever 😉 Of course, there could be a few amazing moments. Thanks for sharing that link! For impatient folks like me, see this rendering of the plan (from the live video page): [![](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2012/newsspec_4338/img/costa_concordia976x630.jpg) ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2012/newsspec_4338/img/costa_concordia976x630.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/186 "2013-09-16T14:23:32Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > Looks pretty cool on Google maps… [Indeed!](http://dmf109.smugmug.com/Photography/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-XdBX8S3/0/L/CA_09161310224265-L.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/187 "2013-09-16T14:53:43Z")
Just had a press conference. Highlights as I caught them: Rotation completed is 10+ degrees. Side of the ship is now clear of the rocks. No word on the missing bodies. No pollutive leakage so far. Current plan is to continue with the cables for another 4-5 hours then they will start filling the sponsons to get a gravity assist. Speed of rotation will likely remain the same until filling, then might be subject to change at the salvage master’s discretion. Weather is expected to worsen into the evening, but current forecast shows everything staying within acceptable parameters for continuing the work. In fact, the forecast winds may actually be in a direction to provide assistance. So, in summary, on plan, but going a bit slower than the most optimistic estimates. Just another day at the office… ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/188 "2013-09-16T15:28:27Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > No word on the missing bodies. I read somewhere that they intend to enter the ship when it is upright to search for the two missing persons and retrieve people’s belongings. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/189 "2013-09-16T15:46:21Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > I read somewhere that they intend to enter the ship when it is upright to search for the two missing persons and retrieve people’s belongings. Yeah, that’s what they said, but there was some (understandable) concern that the side lifting off the bottom might dislodge them and cause them to float out. They had people standing by for that (as well as other debris that loosened). Been looking at the animations and such and it’s a fascinating operation. “Funny” thing (dark sense of humor) - all of the animations show this pristine white ship being refloated and towed away. The actual pictures show something different! ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/190 "2013-09-16T17:13:05Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > For impatient folks like me, see this rendering of the plan (from the live video page): > > [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2012/newsspec\_4338/img/costa\_concordia976x630.jpg](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2012/newsspec_4338/img/costa_concordia976x630.jpg) They’ve modified [the plan](http://imgur.com/XpkWjJw) a little… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/191 "2013-09-16T17:17:47Z")
2nd Press Conference: 1. Some problems with slack in the pulling cables. They had to be “wound up” to prevent interference with the active cables. Now saying that they won’t be done until after midnight, so more like 15 hours total. 2. Now saying they want 24 degrees of rotation before switching to gravity-based rolling using the caissons. 3. Funny moment, the cable problem was planned for and someone asked “why if it was planned for, did you say you could do it in 8 hours?” Guy replies, "that’s the attitude of this country, instead of saying ‘good job in planning’, you say ‘why did you say you could do it faster?’. Audience laughed, but guy obviously lost his temper a bit. Trying to walk it back a bit now. 4. Journalists are being a little pissy - accusing the salvage operators of not educating them about all possible problems and contingency plans. Oop, there goes the temper again, now berating the journalists for focusing on the ‘minor issues’. “The issue shouldn’t be the timing, it issue should be that it gets done correctly and successfully.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/192 "2013-09-16T17:57:54Z")
Some cool minidrone footage over the wreck: [Video News - CNN](http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2013/09/16/nadeau-lklv-concordia-parbuckling.cnn&hpt=hp_c2&from_homepage=yes#/video/world/2013/07/17/costa-concordia-drone-footage.cnn) ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/193 "2013-09-17T01:50:57Z")
Huzzah! Damn near level. Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/194 "2013-09-17T02:11:20Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Better than the themed ride. I don’t know, the [The John Denver Experience](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6lLOmGEJ1c) seems cool. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/195 "2013-09-17T10:24:44Z")
Concordia is UPRIGHT. This far from being removed from Giglio . The next step is to add more floats onto the other side, so that the whole can float in a stable fashion. They won’t float her (with caissons assisting) for months yet. She is NOT off the rocks. She is on the rocks in shallow water. She is NOT safe… She could easily roll over one way or the other, or break the barriers and sink into the depths. She is NOT floating. She is sunk on the bottom. She is NOT salvaged. She is going to remain sunk and stuck there for months to come ! She is NOT going to be repaired. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/196 "2013-09-17T10:43:49Z")
See the whole maneuver compressed into two minutes: [http://tv.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/nyheter/article19038.ab](http://tv.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/nyheter/article19038.ab) There might be some Swedish narration (can’t say if as my computer doesn’t have sound). ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/197 "2013-09-17T12:10:58Z")
> [@Floater](#): > > See the whole maneuver compressed into two minutes: [http://tv.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/nyheter/article19038.ab](http://tv.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/nyheter/article19038.ab) > > There might be some Swedish narration (can’t say if as my computer doesn’t have sound). That seemed easy enough. Why didn’t they just do that from the get-go? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/198 "2013-09-17T12:48:27Z")
$795 billion? I knew it was expensive, but not [that expensive](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/13/costo-concordia-wreck-photo_n_3922702.html)! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/199 "2013-09-17T13:25:14Z")
Close up shots of the raised ship. I feel bad for the residents that have to look at it all winter. It’s so filthy and crashed in. I’m sure the locals look forward to seeing it towed away next Spring. > **[Costa Concordia is winched upright in £500m salvage operation](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2421734/Costa-Concordia-divers-begin-grim-task-hunting-2-missing-bodies.html)** > > Dozens of workers lifted the stricken liner upright early this morning in Italy in a £500millon operation which is the biggest salvage mission in maritime history. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541/200 "2013-09-17T19:45:59Z")
it’s the Crushed Concordia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chance-they-can-get-the-grounded-italian-ship-back-upright/609541.md?page=11)