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Shipwrecked Costa Concordia refloated

TECHNICIANS refloated the shipwrecked Italian liner Costa Concordia successfully today in preparation for towing it away to be scrapped.

Authorities expressed satisfaction that the operation to float the Concordia from an underwater platform had proceeded without a hitch, 30 months after it struck a reef and capsized, killing 32 people.

The entire operation to remove the Concordia from the reef and float it from Giglio to Genoa, where it will be scrapped, will cost a total of 1.5 billion euros.

Towing is set to begin July 21. It’s about 200 nautical miles to Genoa and the trip is expected to take five days.

“The operation began well, but it will be completed only when we have finished the journey to Genoa,” said Italian Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti.

Concordia captain Francesco Schettino is on trial in Tuscany for manslaughter, causing the shipwreck and abandoning ship before all passengers were evacuated.

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