Costa Concordia Re-Floated

In January 2012, Verona residents Angelo and Danielle Pezzino were enjoying their first cruise ship vacation in the Mediterranean. That ship, the Costa Concordia, would become known the world over after it foundered and sank off the coast of Italy, killing 32 people. The Pezzinos were among the last people to escape the ship, and Angelo Pezzino described the night in detail to us here.

This morning, the Costa Concordia was looking something like its former self after a salvage company succeeded in re-floating the vessel off Giglio, Italy. But reports say several more days of intricate maneuvers will be needed before the ship can be moved to a salvage yard.

The ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, faces multiple criminal charges including manslaughter and abandoning the ship. He told Italian investigators two days ago that the Costa Concordia’s crew did not follow his orders on the ship’s course.