Remove Costa Concordia now, Italian minister says

GROSETTO , Italy, June 26 (UPI) -- Italy's emergency commissioner urged the immediate removal of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia Thursday.

Franco Gabrielli said the cruise ship "must leave as soon as possible." The ship sank after striking rocks off the coast of the island of Giglio in 2012, leading to the deaths of 32 people aboard and the continuing trial of its captain, Francesco Schittino,

Altero Matteoli, president of a public works commission, said the ship could be towed to the nearby port of Piombino for dismantling and disposal, instead of towing it to Genoa, as the original plan suggested.

A meeting Wednesday, to approve the original plan, failed to reach consensus by the stakeholders. Costa Cruises, the Tuscany regional government, and the province of Grosetto each voted against sending the Costa Concordia to Genoa.

Gabrielli noted the transfer of the ship to Genoa could take up to a week and be affected by adverse weather conditions.