FoundOcean to help raise the Costa Concordia

THE Costa Concordia, the ocean liner that ran aground off the coast of Italy last year, is being raised with the help of a firm in Livingston.

FoundOcean, which normally carries out grouting for oil and gas rigs and offshore wind turbines, has designed, manufactured and grouted 2,500 pieces of equipment that will be used to lift the ship into an upright position.

The company has also worked on six subsea support platforms, which will be used in the “parbuckling” – or rolling – of the Costa Concordia from its current beached position.

Michael Stockwell, commercial manager for Titan-Micoperi, the Italian-American consortium working on the Costa Concordia recovery, said: “We approached FoundOcean having worked with them on previous offshore projects. Their expertise will be invaluable on a project as sensitive as this.”

Italian private equity firm Ambienta backed a buyout at FoundOcean last year.