Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

NOVA: Sunken Ship Rescue

High angle wreck of the Costa Concordia at an early stage of the salvage operation before sponsons (air tanks) attached.
Courtesy of Windfall Films
High angle wreck of the Costa Concordia at an early stage of the salvage operation before sponsons (air tanks) attached.

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023 at 9 p.m. on KPBS TV / PBS App

On "Sunken Ship Rescue," NOVA follows the epic operation to secure, raise and salvage the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which ran aground and capsized off the coast of Italy on January 13, 2012, killing 32 people. The wreck stretches the length of three football fields, weighs 45,000 tons and lies half submerged on the site of a protected reef, with a 160-foot-long hole in its hull. Moving it from its precarious perch on the edge of an underwater cliff will be a huge technical and logistical challenge. Now, NOVA joins a team of more than 500 divers and engineers working around the clock as they attempt the biggest ship recovery project in history.

Sunken Ship Rescue | NOVA

Watch On Your Schedule:

Advertisement

This full will be available on demand for a limited time with the PBS App. Watch the best of PBS anytime, anywhere on the free PBS App. Stream your favorite PBS shows on-demand and livestream shows from your local station, all from your favorite device.

Extend your viewing window with KPBS Passport. Contribute a tax-deductible* gift of $5 per month or an annual gift of $60 or more. Your donation will help KPBS serve your community through media that educates, inspires, and entertains.

Bow of the Costa Concordia wreck. Salvage crews attach large air tanks, called sponsons, to the port side that will provide buoyancy when the ship is towed away from the island.
Courtesy of Windfall Films
Bow of the Costa Concordia wreck. Salvage crews attach large air tanks, called sponsons, to the port side that will provide buoyancy when the ship is towed away from the island.

Explore the science behind the headlines in PBS’ premier science series. With compelling stories and spectacular visuals, NOVA programs demystify science and technology for viewers of all ages and spotlight people involved in scientific pursuits.

NOVA is on Facebook, Instagram, @novapbs on Twitter #NOVAnext