Salvage Workers Begin Costa Concordia Parbuckling

Nightfall brought little quiet to the Tuscan island of Giglio on Sunday (September 15) as salvage workers, journalists and local residents prepared for a historic attempt to rotate the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship.

The arduous operation to bring the Concordia upright is due to begin at 6 a.m. local time (0400gmt) on Monday (September 16).

With bright spotlights illuminating the decaying wreck and surrounding salvage structures, workers could be seen carrying out final preparations well into the night.

Meanwhile a few hundred metres away on the island itself journalists continued reporting for outlets around the world.

Many of the locals on the Giglio waterfront said they planned to get up early to witness the start of the rotation operation, called parbuckling.

A banner expressing support for the workers from the Titan and Micoperi salvage companies running the operation had been tied to the pier facing the Costa Concordia. "In Titan-Micoperi we trust", it read.

Presented by Adam Justice