Collapsed Sponson Repositioned, Damage Assessment to Ensue

The sponson S13 installed on the starboard side of the Concordia wreck has been restored to a horizontal position, according to Titan Micoperi salvage company’s response to media reports regarding “a new disequilibrium of sponson S13” on the wreck.

Namely, the sponson, which was the first to had been installed on the wreck within its refloating plan, collapsed. Fortunately, nobody was hurt when the incident occurred.

“Currently, the sponson is kept in position with the support of the Conquest crane. Technicians are carrying out operations to empty the sponson from ballast water.

Such operations can cause a disequilibrium of the sponson due to the movement of internal water. Such movements are to be considered physiological, until the sponson is completely empty.

Situation is currently under control,“Micoperi said.

The sponson will be transported to a shipyard for technical assessments and necessary repairs.

Installation of the remaining sponsons will resume as soon as the Conquest crane becomes available again, that is after the S13 is loaded on the barge that will reach Giglio island from Genoa, Micoperi added.

“Repositioning of S13 will therefore be completed at a later stage,” the salvage company explained noting that the installation sequence foresees positioning of S10 as soon as possible.

“Technicians have assessed minor damages also in the adjacent sponson (S12), caused by yesterday’s (May 6) contact with sponson S13 during its rotation. Assessment on this sponson is ongoing,” Micoperi concluded.

[mappress]
Press Release, May 8, 2014; Image: the Parbuckling project