D'Alesio Group

The M/C Elba had a primary role in the environmental protection operations as it was employed in the defueling process.

A time consuming job, not without its difficulties. The fuel-oil transfer operations began at 5 p.m. February 12 and continued 24 hours a day on all of those days when the weather conditions made it possible. The entire operation took place with the collaboration of the technical personnel from Neri and from Smit Salvage and with the support of the personnel from the Pontoon Meloria that, with its crew, monitored every hour the loading rate, of about 10 cubic metres per hour

For this operation the “hot tap” technology was used, which required drilling a hole in the metal of the cruise ship’s tanks and the insertion of valves and flanges to remove the fuel while, at the same time,  introducing water for it to take the place of the fuel, in order to maintain the stability of the Concordia.