Costa Concordia: A Landmark Salvage and Parbuckling Project
Following the grounding of the Costa Concordia off the Italian coast, the vessel remained partially submerged on a rocky seabed for over 18 months. The salvage operation required a complex engineering approach, combining rigging systems, controlled load distribution, and precise synchronization. The project is widely regarded as a reference case in large-scale maritime salvage engineering.
A key phase within the overall salvage process was the parbuckling operation—the controlled rotation of the vessel from its side to an upright position. This operation was carried out over approximately 19 hours, using strand jacks and wire rope systems to control the rotation, supported by subsea-installed platforms that provided a stable landing base for the hull.
Our AqualLine Open Spelter Sockets No. 140 for 3 ¼” (81 mm) wire rope and AqualLine Closed Spelter Sockets No. 299 for 9⁄16” (14 mm) wire rope were integrated into the rigging system. These components provided reliable end terminations under high dynamic loads and contributed to maintaining system integrity throughout the operation.
The successful parbuckling allowed the vessel to be refloated and subsequently towed away in one piece, reducing the risk of structural failure and environmental impact.
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