The 92 meter long cable barge AMT Explorer capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea near Sardinia. The barge was being towed by the tug Red Husky from Naples to Bremerhaven with cable when the vessel lost stability and capsized. The crew on board were able to abandon ship and rescued. No reports of injuries. The cable on board the AMT Explorer was estimated to be worth 28 million euros. Reports state that Smit Salvage has been contracted to recover the barge and cable.
Officials have confirmed that the parbuckling of the Costa Concordia has been completed after a 19 hour operation and the ship is now sitting in its final upright position on underwater platforms. Oil booms were placed around vessel to contain any pollution or oil trapped in the ship, but no spill was spotted during the operation. The next step in the Concordia salvage is to stabilising it and preparing for it to be re-floated. Giant buoyancy tanks will be attached before it is towed away for scrap in the following months.
Salvage operations may take up to 12 hours with the live stream continuing through September 17, 2013. After the parbuckling procedure is completed, the salvage may continue for an additional month while crews prepare the vessel to be re-floated using the the giant buoyancy tanks welded onto her hull.
