Tow boats sail past the Costa Concordia ship as it lies on its side near the Tuscan Island of Giglio, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. An international team of engineers is expected on Monday, Sept. 16 a to try a never-before attempted strategy to right the luxury liner, which capsized after striking a reef in 2012 killing 32 people. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
GIGLIO ISLAND, Italy (AP) — Authorities have given the final go-ahead for a daring attempt Monday to pull upright the crippled Costa Concordia cruise liner from the waters off Tuscany where it capsized 20 months ago.
Italy’s national Civil Protection agency waited until sea and weather conditions were forecast for dawn Monday before giving the OK. In a statement Sunday, the Civil Protection agency said conditions indicated it was all right to undertake the operation.
The Concordia struck a reef near Giglio Island the night of Jan. 13, 2012, took on water and capsized just outside the harbor. Thirty-two of the 4,200 passengers and crew perished.
Never before have engineers tried to right such a huge ship so close to land. If the operation succeeds, the Concordia will be towed and broken up for scrap.
