Concordia salvage work resumes

Salvage teams are back at work on the wrecked Costa Concordia off the Italian island of Giglio.

They had been repeatedly delayed by stormy weather, but are now preparing to extract the more than 2,300 tonnes of diesel fuel in an effort to prevent an environmental catastrophe.

Officials have estimated that the salvage operation will take between seven and 10 months once preparations have been completed.

This means the huge hull will remain where it rests at least until the end of the year.

The 290-metre-long vessel ran aground and partially-capsized on January 13.

At least 17 people died in the accident, and 15 others are still missing.

By tonnage, the Costa Concordia is the largest passenger shipwreck ever.

Travis Brecher, Reuters