The Costa Concordia as the luxury liner looked before the grounding.
After
The bow of the Costa Concordia cruise liner is seen as it emerges during the refloating operation at Giglio harbour July 20, 2014. . REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
Eleanor Biles and Silvia Ognibene
GIGLIO, Italy (Reuters) - The massive hulk of the Costa Concordia is nearly ready to be towed away from the Italian island where it struck a rock and capsized two-and-a-half years ago, killing 32 people, officials said on Sunday.
The rusting prow of the once-gleaming white luxury liner was due to emerge fully from the water for the first time on Sunday, and the ship should be ready to tow on Monday, but the departure has been pushed back a day due to forecasts of rough seas.
The 114,500-tonne Concordia has been slowly lifted from the sea floor since Monday, when salvagers began pumping air into 30 large metal boxes, or sponsons, attached around the hull.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-costa- ... z386Wsunzy