As recovery and investigation continues aboard and surrounding the stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship, we look today at the approach taken by the salvage operation.
Dutch salvage experts SMIT plans to use “hot tapping” technology to remove close to 2,500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil from the vessel, along with other oils and lubricants on board. This graphic describes the process.
You may also like to read E&T’s news story on a review of cruise line safety, prompted by the Costa Concordia disaster.
Click on the graphic for an expanded view.
Engineering & Technology magazine 
There is a major ommission here. If there is a double hull, how can the spill of oil be prevented by the hot tap valve?? The oil can leak out through the hole into the double hull interspace!