Ep 1. The Raising of The Costa Concordia
- January 9, 2015
The Raising of The Costa Concordia is the first episode of the 2015 season of National Geographic Documentaries. The episode takes us behind the scenes of one of the riskiest and most complex engineering feats ever attempted: the raising of the Costa Concordia cruise ship. The ship famously capsized off the coast of Italy in 2012, killing 32 people and leaving the wreckage as a haunting reminder of the tragedy.
The episode begins with a brief overview of the disaster that led to the Costa Concordia's sinking, which was caused by the ship striking a rock and tearing a hole in its hull. From there, the focus shifts to the massive operation to refloat the Costa Concordia, which involved a team of engineers, divers, and salvage experts working around the clock to raise the massive vessel from the ocean floor.
The process of raising the Costa Concordia is a delicate and dangerous one, as any wrong move could cause the ship to collapse or break apart completely. The team is faced with a number of challenges, including the fact that the ship is partially submerged in over 100 feet of water, and must be raised without damaging the fragile ecosystem surrounding it.
We see the team working tirelessly to repair and reinforce the damaged ship, as well as planning and executing the complex operation of refloating it. We also see the dangers they face, including strong currents, shifting tides, and the ever-present threat of equipment failure.
Throughout the episode, we hear from the experts involved in the operation, who explain the science and engineering behind what they're doing, as well as the emotional toll the disaster has taken on them. We also see the impact the disaster has had on the community around the wreck, and the efforts to restore the area to its former beauty.
Ultimately, the operation to raise the Costa Concordia is a success, and the episode ends with the ship being towed away from the site of the tragedy, bringing closure to the families of the victims and the millions who were affected by the disaster.
The Raising of The Costa Concordia is a fascinating look at one of the most complex engineering challenges of our time, and the team of experts who dedicated themselves to bringing closure to a tragedy that captured the world's attention.
