An aerial photo of the wrecked Italian cruise liner the Costa Concordia as it is towed on its final journey to the port of Genoa, Italy from Giglio Island, Italy 240 kilometers away on July 23, 2014.Civil Protection Office—EPA
Two and a half years have passed since the cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground outside of Giglio, Italy, killing 32 people and leaving the ship partially submerged in shallow water. Salvage crews worked tirelessly to re-float the wreck last week, filling steel boxes with air to serve as pontoons. Other boats will now tow the ship on its 240-kilometer (150-mile) journey to Genoa, Italy.
The Costa Concordia operation is the largest salvage attempt to date, with the ship weighing in at 114,500 tons. Dismantling the vessel on the reef was not an option. “It’s far more dangerous to the environment to leave it where it is than to tow it away,” Italy’s civil-protection chief Franco Gabrielli told Giglio residents.
The floatation and salvation project is expected to cost more than $2 billion. TIME takes a look at the Costa Concordia’s journey so far.
The Costa Concordia wreck re-float operation on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy. The 114,500 ton ship ran aground in January of 2012. The ships captain could face 20 years in prison.Federico Scoppa—Demotix/CorbisA detail in the interior of Costa Concordia cruise ship wreck off coast Giglio island, Italy on 21 July 2014. All floors of the ship were cleaned to prevent toxic chemicals from spilling into the water. Grosseto Court—Court of Grosseto, Tuscany/EPACosta Concordia re-float operation close to the end on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy. Air-filled steel boxes acted as pontoons, forcing the ship into an upright position.Federico Scoppa—Demotix/CorbisA detail in the interior of Costa Concordia cruise ship wreck on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy.Grosseto Court—Court of Grosseto, Tuscany/EPAThe side of the Costa Concordia on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy.Vittoriano Rastelli—CorbissThe central atrium in the interior of Costa Concordia on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy.ReutersCosta Concordia re-float operation close to the end on February 27, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy. The floatation and and salvage costs will exceed $2 billion. Federico Scoppa—Demotix/CorbisA detail in the interior of Costa Concordia on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy.Grosseto Court—Court of Grosseto, Tuscany/EPACosta Concordia in front of the harbour of Isola del Giglio, after it was refloated using air tanks attached to its sides, on July 23, 2014 off Giglio Island, Italy. Andreas Solaro—AFP/Getty ImagesA detail in the interior of Costa Concordia cruise ship wreck on July 21, 2014 in Giglio Porto, Italy.Grosseto Court—Court of Grosseto, Tuscany/EPAYouths play soccer at a beach as the Costa Concordia cruise liner is seen during its re-floating operation at Giglio harbor, Italy on July 22, 2014. Giamipero Sposito—AFP/Getty ImagesBlack smoke comes out from the back of the Costa Concordia during its re-float operation at Giglio harbor, Italy on July 23, 2014.Max Rossi—ReutersCosta Concordia is maneuvered into position to be towed away from the tiny Tuscan island of Isola del Giglio, Italy on July 23, 2014.Gregorio Borgia—APAn aerial photo of the wrecked Italian cruise liner the Costa Concordia as it is towed on its final journey to the port of Genoa, Italy from Giglio Island, Italy 240 kilometers away on July 23, 2014.Civil Protection Office—EPA
