Final Costa Concordia Victim Found, Ship To Be Recycled

The final Costa Concordia trip can now finish, as the final victim had been found.

Reuters is reporting that a final body’s remains were found as the Costa Concordia was being towed to the city of Genoa to be scrapped. Almost three years after the Costa Concordia had grounded herself along the tops of rocks near Tanzania.

Russel Rubello, a waiter from India, was the final of 32 people killed when the Costa Concordia leveled itself, and the final victim found.

A spokesperson for the Italian Coast Guard in Genoa, who was in the northern port town of Genoa awaiting the arrival of the Costa Concordia to begin the reclamation process on the ship, did announce they found remains of a body, believed to be Rubello. There was some speculation that the remains were that of a lamb, but is has now been proven that those final remains were that of Rubello. It took the Italian Coast Guard almost three years to find and account for all deceased passengers.

Crews will now work to tear the ship apart to be reused in building cars, planes, even more ships.

The Costa Concordia, a floating hotel ship that was at least three soccer pitches long, created a chaotic nighttime rescue mission and on of the largest maritime salvage jobs ever.

CNN is reporting that at the time the Costa Concordia ran aground, there were 4,200 passengers on board.

Russel Rubello’s brother, Kevin, posted the information on his Facebook page.

“I promised my family that I will bring back home my brother some day,” Kevin wrote, stating that 1,025 days had passed since his brother was lost in the tragedy.

Russel Rebello’s body was found on Deck 8 in a cabin, his brother wrote.

“I don’t have words to express,” Kevin Robello said. “Just my pain, my tears, my heart pounding harder and my body trembling.”

The immobile Costa Concordia stuck out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of the Giglio island landscape until July. The ship was refloated, then gently and slowly guided to its resting place in Genoa. Here, it will sit for two years while it is being salvaged.

Salvagers expect to be able to recover about 80 percent of the Costa Concordia. Salvagers will work on recycling copper wiring, plumbing pipes, some kitchen and plastic room fittings that should be able to be repaired.

Once the Costa Concordia has been gutted, the remaining 50,000 tons of metal will be sold at market price, then melted down to become construction girders, cars and even other ships.

[Image courtesy of One News Page]