Refloating the Concordia

"Dutch maritime services company Boskalis has made a bid to salvage the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise liner ... It will cost "far beyond" 100 million euros to raise the 114,500 metric tonne (126,215 tons), 290 meter (317 yards) long ship in one piece, Berdowski told reporters."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/15/us-italy-shipwreck-salvage-idUSBRE82E0BF20120315

 

It looks like a scam already. The ship only weighs around half of the quoted tonnage. I hope that, if the insurance companies are carrying the costs of recovery, Costa's premiums are massively increased across the rest of their fleet.

 

They are including the weight of the water inside...

 

They could fill it with champagne at that price.

 

Does seem a bit outta line. If you installed 200,000 air bags at 1 m^3, each hooked up to a remote controlled gas generator, that would be 500 euros per bag. I'm thinking that for a 2 month long gig, a lot of folks would dive for $100 a day plus expenses. If a diver could install 50 a day, you need 4000 man-days. 150 people for two months max including support crew. Surely you can build gas bags for 150 euro each if you're making a whole bunch.

 

Why would you tell the insurance company your vessel weighed twice what it did?

 

If they can succeed for that price, Carnival will consider it a bargin.

 

Maybe because you want to save money and just sink it, or you want to make a nice return on a recovery operation. Reuters are owned by the large banking families, who will have fingers in all the pies, owners, insurance, salvage, the lot. They will decide how they share the spoils and your premiums will creep up as always.

 

There is a big hole in the side of it, some would say there is something fishy going on here. If they were going to make a false claim it would not be full of passengers when they did it for fear of counter claims of injuries which could easily be in excess of this, or at least absorb some or most.

However its weight does not have any connection to its value.

So I dont see the point of falsifying insurance credentials such a false weight.

 

Frosty, I am not saying that they wrecked the ship deliberately. Their captain, allegedly, did that through recklessness. They have to get her shifted off that rock, preferrably without poluting the Med by sinking her.
They also have to get her replaced.
The Big Boys computers will be red hot, working out how to maximise their profits and minimise their losses out of their given situation. Believe me, you and I and every other consumer will pay for it, one way or another.

 

"GIGLIO, Italy, March 16 (UPI) -- Refloating the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia, which capsized in a disaster that killed 32 people, could cost more than $131 million, Peter Berdowski, chief executive of Royal Boskalis Westminster" estimated.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-N...ise-liner-could-cost-131M/UPI-40631331916182/

 

A 40 foot Miramu sank in my local bay, rumor had it an anchor under floor slid with heavy ferry wake and broke off a skin fitting. Only the tip of the mast was visable .

Negotiations started immediately to recover, one side having the equipment and time the other side having no time and no equipment.

The longer the boat remained submerged damage increased many fold daily, both parties knew this.

After a week damage was getting severe and leverage on this to negotiate was thin.

After 2 weeks the damage was maximum needing engine over haul and even removal of barnacles, only then could proper negotiations take place at a fraction of day 1

Sad but true example of human greed.

 

Sad to think of all the equipment corroding in salt for months.

 

Teams of engineers will work around the clock seven days a week for a year

The stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia is to be rightened and refloated in what will be the biggest operation of its kind ever seen.

Teams of engineers will work around the clock seven days a week for a year in the process which is expected to start in May, four months after the liner struck rocks and capsized leaving 32 people dead, with two bodies still unaccounted for.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...lvage-stricken-cruise-ship.html#ixzz1qw5xNo00

"Please don't let the Americans anywhere near this wreck. they can only be described as cowboys in this industry, they will cause more damage to this place than if the vessel was just left to break up. Smit are the best in the world, second to none. they have a proven track record and will do the job correctly. they might charge a bit more, but they will get the job done."

- Scott, Tampa Bay, USA, 02/4/2012 12:45

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...lvage-stricken-cruise-ship.html#ixzz1qw7IwyLY

 

I'd love to know the range of bids from the 7 salvage co's.