Costa Concordia towed away from Italian port where it sunk
Sirens on nearby boats wailed and bells on the island tolled just before two tugboats on Wednesday pulled the Concordia away from Giglio's port, where the luxury liner ended up on its side, after striking a reef when its captain steered too close to the island in pristine waters.
The tugs are bringing the crippled ship on a four-day journey to Genoa, the northwestern Italian mainland port and home to the ship's owner, Costa Crociere Spa. The vessel will be reduced to scrap at the port.
Accompanying the tugs and Concordia, moving at 2 knots, are several boats to help check for any possible pollution in the waters, which are home to dolphins.
A daring engineering operation set the Concordia upright last September in preparation for removal. The salvage master of the entire operation, Nick Sloane, told reporters he was a bit nervous just before boarding the Concordia to monitor the final voyage.
After the Concordia's departure from Giglio, another search will be launched for the body of the one victim that was never found.
"It's a moment for sobriety and sorrowful respect for those who are no more," Franco Gabrielli, the Italian government official monitoring the entire removal process, told Sky TG24 as he recalled those who perished.
France also sent a boat to monitor the voyage, since the Concordia's final route passes Corsica's east coast.