Costa Concordia
Product brand
UnclaimedAn Italian-operated cruise ship that became internationally known after grounding and partially sinking off Isola del Giglio in 2012.
Last updated August 21, 2026
Overview
Costa Concordia was a large Italian cruise ship operated by Costa Crociere, the Italian subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Built by Fincantieri at its Sestri Ponente shipyard in Genoa, the vessel was ordered in 2004, delivered in June 2006, and entered service as the first ship of the Concordia class. At approximately 114,137 gross tons and 290.2 metres long, it was among the largest passenger ships constructed in Italy at the time. The class was developed for the expanding contemporary cruise market and combined high passenger capacity with extensive hotel, dining, entertainment, and wellness facilities. The ship carried approximately 1,500 cabins, including balcony rooms, suites, and accommodation associated with the Samsara Spa. Public amenities included multiple swimming pools, restaurants, bars, a casino, a three-level theatre, a disco, a fitness and thalassotherapy complex, a children’s area, a racing simulator, and other leisure facilities. Its diesel-electric propulsion system used six Wärtsilä generator sets supplying electric motors connected to fixed-pitch propellers. The ship’s name, “Concordia,” was presented as an expression of harmony and unity among European nations. Costa Concordia operated Mediterranean cruises from Italian ports. It sustained non-fatal bow damage in Palermo in November 2008 when strong winds pushed it against a dock; the damaged area was later fully repaired during refurbishment. Its defining event occurred on 13 January 2012 during a seven-night cruise departing from Civitavecchia. Near Isola del Giglio in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the ship struck underwater rock, opening a roughly 53-metre breach along the port side. Flooding disabled propulsion and electrical systems, and the vessel listed before grounding near Giglio Porto. The evacuation lasted more than six hours. There were 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew members aboard according to the cited account, and 32 people died. The accident triggered extensive scrutiny of bridge decisions, emergency communication, evacuation procedures, company oversight, and maritime safety practices. Captain Francesco Schettino was convicted of manslaughter, causing a maritime accident, and abandoning ship, receiving a 16-year prison sentence in 2015. The wreck was declared beyond economical repair. Fuel removal was completed in 2012, and a complex salvage operation raised the ship to an upright position in September 2013. In July 2014 it was refloated and towed under escort to Genoa, where dismantling began. The remaining hull was progressively stripped and scrapped, with final dismantling completed in July 2017. Costa Concordia is therefore no longer an operating vessel; its historical significance lies primarily in the 2012 disaster and the technically demanding removal operation that followed.
History
Costa Concordia was conceived during the growth of large-scale European cruise tourism. Carnival Corporation ordered the ship from Fincantieri in 2004, and construction took place at the Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa under yard number 6122. It was launched on 2 September 2005 and delivered to Costa Crociere on 30 June 2006. The ship inaugurated the Concordia class, whose later members included Costa Serena, Costa Pacifica, Costa Favolosa, and Costa Fascinosa; Carnival Splendor was also built on a related design platform for Carnival Cruise Line. The vessel was designed as a floating resort. Its 13 public decks were named after European countries, while its accommodation and public spaces combined cruise cabins, balcony rooms, suites, restaurants, bars, pools, entertainment venues, and a large Samsara Spa complex. Six diesel generator sets supplied electricity for both propulsion and hotel services. With a design service speed of 19.6 knots and a length of 290.2 metres, it represented the scale and amenity density of the contemporary mass-market cruise sector. During service, Costa Concordia experienced a significant but non-fatal incident in Palermo on 22 November 2008. High winds pushed the ship against its berth, damaging the bow. Initial repairs were completed shortly afterward, and the affected area was fully repaired during a later refurbishment in 2011. On 13 January 2012, Costa Concordia left Civitavecchia for a seven-night cruise. At about 21:45 local time, it struck rock off the eastern coast of Isola del Giglio. The impact opened a long breach in the port-side hull and flooded machinery spaces. The ship lost propulsion and much of its electrical capability, drifted toward the island, and grounded near Giglio Porto while listing heavily. The delayed abandonment order and prolonged evacuation became central issues in subsequent investigations and litigation. Thirty-two passengers and crew members died, and the final missing person was recovered in November 2014. The wreck remained in a precarious position and posed environmental and navigational risks. Smit International initially assessed the ship as a constructive total loss and began fuel-removal work. After fuel extraction was completed, Titan Salvage and partners undertook a major engineered recovery. In September 2013 the wreck was rotated upright using a parbuckling system. It was refloated in July 2014 and towed to Genoa, arriving later that month. Sections of the upper structure were removed in 2015, the remaining hull entered dry dock in 2016, and dismantling was completed on 7 July 2017. The disaster had consequences beyond the individual vessel. It became a prominent case study in shipboard emergency management, bridge resource management, passenger mustering, evacuation timing, company procedures, and the responsibilities of shipmasters. Captain Francesco Schettino was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2015. Costa Concordia itself ceased to exist as an operating ship after the salvage and scrapping process.
- 2017
Scrapping completed
[1]Final dismantling of the ship was completed in Genoa on 7 July.
- 2014
Towed from Giglio to Genoa
[1]The refloated wreck was escorted to Genoa for dismantling.
- 2013
Wreck rotated upright
[1]Salvage contractors completed the parbuckling operation and brought the wreck onto an upright keel.
- 2012
Grounding and partial sinking
[1]The ship struck rock near Isola del Giglio, grounded, and partially sank; 32 people died.
- 2012
Fuel removal completed
[1]Specialist teams removed the ship’s fuel to reduce environmental risk and enable further salvage planning.
- 2011
Bow repairs completed during refurbishment
[1]The damage from the Palermo incident was fully repaired during refurbishment.
- 2008
Bow damage in Palermo
[1]Strong winds pushed the ship against its dock, causing bow damage without reported injuries.
- 2006
Delivered to Costa Crociere
[1]Costa Concordia was delivered on 30 June and entered the company’s cruise fleet.
- 2005
Ship launched at Genoa
[1]The first Concordia-class ship was launched at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard in Genoa.
- 2004
Construction ordered
[1]Carnival Corporation ordered the vessel from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for operation by Costa Crociere.
Products and positioning
A large, resort-style contemporary cruise ship positioned around Mediterranean leisure travel, extensive onboard amenities, and high-capacity passenger accommodation.
Cruise ship · 2005
Costa Concordia
The first Concordia-class cruise ship, Costa Concordia was approximately 290.2 metres long and 114,137 gross tons. It offered about 1,500 cabins, including balcony rooms and suites, together with restaurants, bars, pools, a theatre, casino, disco, children’s facilities, and the two-level Samsara Spa. Its diesel-electric system powered both propulsion and hotel services. The vessel operated Mediterranean cruises until its 2012 grounding and was later dismantled.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2013
Use parbuckling to right the wreckOtherBackground
The ship was resting on its side in a difficult and environmentally sensitive position near Giglio, making conventional lifting impractical.
Action taken
Salvage teams rotated the wreck upright with cables, retaining structures, and underwater support systems.
Aftermath
The operation enabled the later refloating and towing of the ship to Genoa.
2012
Declare the vessel a constructive total lossOtherBackground
After assessing the extensive structural damage and the complexity of recovery, salvage specialists concluded that restoring the ship to commercial service was not economically realistic.
Action taken
The wreck was treated as beyond economical repair and planned for removal and scrapping rather than reconstruction.
Aftermath
Fuel was removed, the ship was salvaged, towed to Genoa, and dismantled over the following years.
Recent events
- 2014
Wreck is towed to Genoa for dismantling[1]
Other
After being refloated, the vessel was towed under escort from Giglio to Genoa, where it was prepared for scrapping.
- 2013
Costa Concordia is brought upright[1]
Other
Salvage teams used a parbuckling operation to rotate the wreck into an upright position, a major stage in its removal from Giglio.
- 2012
Fuel removal from the wreck is completed[1]
Other
Specialist contractors removed the ship’s fuel, clearing an important environmental and logistical obstacle to the larger salvage operation.
Sources1 sources
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