More than 2,000 tons of oil have to be extracted from the Costa Concordia before salvage operations begin. Dutch salvage firm Smit will use a process called hot tapping, in which oil is extracted via a hole drilled through a valve attached to the side of the boat. It could take two to four weeks to remove the 2,400 tonnes of fuel oil and 200 tonnes of gas oil in 15 to 20 tanks on the Costa Concordia. Sources: Lloyds List, BBC,
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