Concordia to be floated by next spring

The salvage companies that will refloat the Costa Concordia cruise liner and tug it away from the Giglio island off the Tuscan coast presented detailed plans to Italian authorities on Monday, paving the way for operations to start in earnest. According to the plans presented by Titan of the US and Micoperi of Italy, the ship will be set right by the end of next spring, in time for the island to be free of the wreck for the summer tourist season. The presentation of the detailed plan, Italy's civil protection department, means that orders can now be placed for the production and supplies of all the components and materials which will be needed for theoperation. Preliminary work on preparations for the refloat began in June. The ship will be broken up once it is taken away. Thirty two people were killed when the Concordia capsized on January 13 after hitting a rock while sailing close to island of Giglio off the Tuscan coast to 'salute' local residents.