30 July 2014

The end of the voyage: Costa Concordia reaches ship breaking yard in Italian mainland after five-day towing operation


  • The stricken liner will now be broken down into scrap over two years
  • 32 people died on the ship and a worker died during the salvage operation
  • A restaurant overlooking the ship was blasted for advertising a 'great view'

An aerial view as the Costa Concordia as it is dragged into the harbour of Genoa, today. The vessel, where 33 lost their lives, will be reduced to scrap over the coming two years
An aerial view as the Costa Concordia as it is dragged into the harbour of Genoa, today. The vessel, where 33 lost their lives, will be reduced to scrap over the coming two years

The shipwrecked Costa Concordia cruise liner was towed into the city of Genoa recently where it is due to be scrapped.

After being pulled in by tugboats the wreck was moored ready to be cut up for scrap metal.
The wreckage was where 32 people died after the cruise liner struck a reef when its captain sailed too close to Giglio Island off Tuscany's coast in January 2012.

The ship claimed another life in February this year when one of the rescue divers working to salvage it bled to death after cutting his leg on metal in the water, bringing the death toll to 33.

The wreck was set upright in September 2013 and it took five days to drag it to Genoa, headquarters of ship owner Costa Crociere SpA and the port where the luxury vessel first set sail after construction in 2005.

Resting place: After being pulled in by tugboats the wreck was moored ready to be cut up for scrap metal
Resting place: After being pulled in by tugboats the wreck was moored ready to be cut up for scrap metal

Meanwhile, an Italian restaurant has provoked anger by handing out flyers promising a 'great view' of the doomed liner.
La Vetta has been accused of trying to cash in on the public relations possibilities of its proximity to the ship.

The restaurant's unique selling point is unlikely to end any time soon. Demolition and scrapping will take an estimated two years, and despite massive protest about the advertising campaign from the La Vetta, business has been booming, with diners wanting to see the famous vessel.

On the flyers the restaurant wrote: 'From our terrace you'll catch a great view of the Costa Concordia.'
On social media networks however the adverts triggered a storm of criticism.
One user wrote: 'Now I've realised why I never went there to eat.'
Others picked up and repeated a call to boycott the restaurant. One wrote: 'This is a scandal. They do not realise this wreckage was a grave for 33 people'.

Source: daily mail. 29 July 2014

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