Photographer captures eerie remains of the Costa Concordia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A staircase on the sunken Costa Concordia. Kielkowski writes in his book <em>Concordia</em>. "Against all odds, I find the shipwreck freely accessible - neither fences nor security personnel! Rather, the doors are open, lights are turned on, no man can be seen - nothing in the way to document…" (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/ White Press)
Kielkowski's first attempt to swim to the ship to capture images was thwarted by the coast guard. His second attempt was successful. These haunting images, compiled in his new <a href="https://www.whitepress.com/concordia/">book</a>, capture the former grandeur of the floating hotel and reminds us that even mega cruise ships are not immune from the dangers of the sea. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
The ship struck a submerged rock while in the Mediterranean Sea causing the $570-million ship to sink. In July 2014, the ship was towed from the wreck site to the port of Genoa in northwest Italy, where it is the process of being dismantled and scrapped. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
Sunlight illuminates the algae covered ceiling. It has been four years since the Costa Concordia sank. Francesco Schettino, the ship’s captain, was jailed for 16 years over the accident and today Americans on the cruise are still fighting for compensation. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
The Concordia was a massive ship with four swimming pools, tennis courts, 13 bars, a cinema and a casino. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
Casino chip lay scattered about as if they simply dropped from the tables. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
Slot machines laid bare among the ruins. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
Wiring hangs down from the ceiling and massive installations litter a room. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
The once grand atrium is now covered with sea plants. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)
The Costa Concordia is now just a rusted hull. It remains one of the largest maritime salvage operations in history. (Jonathan Danko Kielkowski/White Press)