Rescue operations have resumed in the evening of Jan 16 in hopes of finding those still missing on the "Costa Concordia".

The operations had been suspended for several hours after divers had heard crunching noise at 11.38 a.m. and the vessel shifted 9 centimetres in rough seas.

29 people, among them 4 crew, were still unaccounted for, including two Americans an 12 Germans. In the evening there were news about a 7th body traced in the foreship region which has not yet been recovered. There are increasing concerns that any further movement of the wreck could cause some of the 2380 tons of fuel on board to leak into the pristine waters off the island.

If the hole in the hull had been four or five metres further along it would have punctured the tanks.

The waters are a protected dolphin sanctuary.

20 workers from Smit Salvage travelled to Giglio on Jan 16 to co-ordinate the operation.

A representative from US-based Titan Salvage, who was also on Giglio, said the contract could run into the millions of Euros.

The wreck, however, is very close to the edge of much deeper water and the waves could push it off its resting place and it could sink entirely. So the fuel pumped out of the ship by hot tapping will be replaced by water in the tanks to ensure that the ship remained stable. So far only very few oil was spilt.