Italy ship wreck set to be lifted and towed away

[ROME] The refloating of Italy's ill-fated Costa Concordia cruise ship is set to begin today, with a high-risk salvage operation to raise the rusting hulk ahead of its final journey to the shipyard where it was built.

Two and a half years after it sank off the island of Giglio in a nighttime disaster that left 32 people dead, the plan is to raise and tow away the 114,500-tonne vessel in an unprecedented and delicate operation.

"The most critical phase will be the first day, raising the wreck for the first time. Refloating a passenger ship this large has never been attempted before," South African Nick Sloane, who is in charge of the salvage, said.