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Concordia's forward fuel tanks emptied; aft tanks now being pumped

Concordia's forward fuel tanks emptied; aft tanks now being pumped
Following a week where unstable weather conditions hampered the oil removal process from Costa Concordia, the operation resumed again last Friday with the crane barge Meloria and bunker barge Magic Duba repositioned alongside the vessel, just behind the stabilizer.

SMIT Salvage reports oil has been removed from all six forward tanks and the hoses, pumps and valves have been disconnected with the flanges sealed off.

Fuel has also been removed from three different double bottom tanks and from the double bottom sludge tank.

Currently, using the hot tap method, two fuel tanks in the aft part of the vessel are in progress of being pumped. Outstanding work includes the removal of HFO from four double bottom tanks, the fuel storage tanks located in the engine room and the removal of sanitary residues.

The first oil was removed from the Costa Concordia on February 13. Original estimates for the complete removal of all fuel was three weeks, according to a plan devised by the Neri/SMIT salvage team, but based on the weather conditions remaining favourable.

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