After Human Lives, Costa Concordia Targets Environment

With 11 dead and 21 still missing, the disaster of Cruise Concordia is already the worst Cruise ship accidents of the decade. However, that is not all. The threat from the half-submergedCosta Concordia off the Italy’s Coast is now showing its effects on the marine environment.
With rescue operations still going under for tracking 21 missing passengers, environmental authorities and agencies are predicting that this incident will get worse as it hashigh chances of oil spill. The ship is loaded with 20, 00,000 litres of Diesel fuel and 20, 00, 00 litres of Heavy fuel oil.

As the ship is right on top of the coastal marine life of the Tuscany Island, Mediterranean’s largest marine sanctuary, residing dolphins, whales, porpoises and specially corals, an oil leak from the ship can destroy the marine and coastal environment of Italy and the after effect will stay for a long period.
Authorities are preparing to unload the fuel oil from the ship as soon as possible to avoid such mishap. The oil transfer may take 3-4 weeks depending upon the weather and the ship’s condition as the ship is almost half inverted and submerged.
On Wednesday, the ship has shifted its position due to which the salvage operation had to be stopped. The Salvage Company which is preparing for oil transfer are taking extra precautions for the oil transfer operation as the ship can further shift into other position.