Undersea prep resumes for removal oil from Italian cruise ship

By The Associated Press
Published: February 05, 2012

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ROME — Underwater operations have resumed aimed at readying the shipwrecked Costa Concordia for the removal of tons of oil from its tanks.

After days of stormy weather, seas off the Tuscan island of Giglio were calm enough Sunday to resume work.

But the Italian government office overseeing salvage and rescue operations said winds were increasing and that the work would be halted before seas become too choppy.

Divers' search of the half-submerged vessel for the bodies of the 15 people missing in the Jan. 13 capsizing remains suspended due to sea conditions.

At least 17 people died after the cruise ship rammed a reef off Giglio and flipped over on its side. Rough seas so far have thwarted efforts to pump out the fuel to avoid pollution of pristine waters.