Rescue workers -- who had suspended their underwater search of the Costa Concordia after the cruise ship moved, making it too risky for divers to operate -- planned to resume searching Friday night on the upper part of the ship, the Italian Coast Guard said..

Rescue workers suspended their search when sensors on board the vessel measured movement, Massimo Maccheroni, of the Coast Guard general command, told CNN.

"When this happens all rescue forces have to leave the ship, (so as) not to put their lives in danger," he said.

But search operations were to resume Friday night, only on the upper part of the ship. Underwater searches will not resume until Saturday, the Italian Coast Guard said.

The authorities are now assessing their options. One possibility being considered is an attempt to anchor the vessel to the rocks off Giglio island using chains.

But, warned Maccheroni, "It's very difficult. The Concordia weighs 110,000 tons and it's like a 300 meter-high skyscraper in an horizontal position."

Originally posted by AnonymousCitizen
reply to post by Ben81

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They should send the captain back aboard immediately to conduct a cabin-by-cabin search.

Originally posted by schuyler
Just read an article about the possibilities, What to do with a 1,000 foot wrecked cruise ship. If it's not restorable, they'll cut it up into pieces and haul it away. If it is restorable, they'll attempt to refloat it or stick it on a barge and take it to drydock. The article said the operation could take over a year. Thyere is some precedent for this. It's been done before.