Salvaging Costa Concordia

PowerPoint Show by Andrew

More than two and a half years since it crashed near Isola del Giglio, Italy, the wreck of the Costa Concordia was successfully refloated this week, and has begun its final journey—a four-day trip to a scrap yard in Genoa.

The cruise ship capsized after striking a reef on January 13, 2012, killing 32 passengers and crew members. The complex salvage operation was the largest and most expensive in history.

The wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise ship was refloated using air tanks attached to its sides.

The Costa Concordia in better days.

This photo, taken on January 13, 2012, shows the Costa Concordia rolling onto its side after it ran aground off the coast of the Isola del Giglio, Italy.

The Costa Concordia, on January 14, 2012.

A Carabinieri scuba diver inspects the hull on January 19, 2012.

Partial view of the Costa Concordia taken on January 14, 2012, showing hull damage after it struck a reef.

Chairs float next to the Costa Concordia, on January 23, 2012.

Divers make their way into a flooded cabin on January 24, 2012.

View of the Costa Concordia on January 14, 2012.

Salvage workers stand on the hull of the Costa Concordia, on January 8, 2013.

Members of the US salvage company Titan and Italian firm Micoperi work at the wreck of Italy's Costa Concordia cruise ship, on September 15, 2013.

The upright -- but still partially submerged on September 17, 2013.

An area inside the Costa Concordia cruise liner on February 27, 2014.

Costa Concordia, during a refloat operation at on July 14, 2014.

Water is expelled from caissons on the wreck of the Costa Concordia during the start of an operation to refloat it on July 14, 2014.

An aerial view of the refloat operation on July 19, 2014.

The Costa Concordia rises from the sea floor during its refloat operation.

The inscription Costa Concordia is visible as it sits in the water during the last stage of refloating operation on July 21, 2014.

A worker sprays water on a deck of the Costa Concordia as the vessel is refloated and almost ready to be towed away.

People watch the Costa Concordia turning during refloat operation maneuvers on July 23, 2014.

The wreck of the Costa Concordia is towed by two tugboats as it leaves behind the tiny Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy, on July 23, 2014.