This morning, the Costa Concordia departed Giglio and began its final voyage to Genoa, where it will be scrapped. The vessel is being towed at average speed of 2 knots and its arrival in Genoa is estimated to be July 26 or 27, according to the Parbuckling Project.
Preliminary activities for Costa Concordia departure maneuvers began at 6 a.m. The first step was to disconnect the mooring cables that connecting the Costa Concordia to the towers on the shore.
The slow and precise tow of the disabled cruise ship 200 miles to the Port of Genoa Voltri, Italy, is being made by a convoy comprised of at least 10 other vessels. There are two tugs, with a combined 24,000 horsepower and 275 tons of bollard pull, at the ship’s bow towing the hull. Another two auxiliary tugs are positioned aft. The other vessels in the convoy, including a pontoon with a 200-tonne crane, are carrying personnel and equipment. A team of marine biologists are present during the tow and the convoy is being preceded by a specialized marine mammals-watching vessel.
The sailing route will take the vessels south between the island of Giglio and Giannutri before heading west-southwest to a point south of the island of Montecristo. The convoy will then head west-northwest to a position south of the island called Scoglio d’Africa before crossing the Ligurian Sea to the Port of Genoa Voltri.
When the Costa Concordia ran aground on Jan. 13, 2012, 4,000 people were aboard and 32 people were killed. The cruise ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, has been charged with manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning ship
You can follow the Costa Concordia's journey via a live position map and webcams here.
