The Costa Concordia sank off the coast of Italy in 2012 after hitting rocks near Giglio Island, with the 114,000-ton ship resting on its side in shallow water. Engineers carried out one of the largest and most expensive salvage operations in history using a method called parbuckling, which rotated the ship upright. Large steel boxes called sponsons were attached to the hull, and water was pumped out to provide buoyancy and lift the vessel. The operation took over two years and cost more than $1.

The Four Phases of the Costa Concordia Dismantling Project

Watch time-lapse video of massive salvage operation to set Costa Concordia cruise liner upright