Giglio , Italy ( CNN ) -- The wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship is about to make its final voyage . Salvage crews began the arduous task of refloating the ship last week so they can move it from its resting place off Giglio Island to the Italian port of Genoa to be dismantled . It is set to sail Wednesday morning , according to Nick Sloane , the senior salvage master . He said the Blue Peter flag was being flown , a maritime tradition that tells sailors they need to get ready and get to the ship . It 's been more than 2Â½ years since the ship ran aground off Giglio Island with more than 4,200 passengers aboard , killing 32 people in a disaster that drew global attention . The vessel will be towed -- slowly and carefully -- approximately 240 kilometers ( 150 miles ) to Genoa , where it will be broken up . A convoy of 17 boats will travel along with it . The ship is expected to arrive in Genoa on Sunday , Sloane said . It 'll take about two years to dismantle the massive cruise liner . Environmental concerns prompted the decision to undertake the expensive and difficult process of refloating the Costa Concordia rather than taking it apart on site . Since the wreck two years ago , 24 metric tons of debris -- including furniture , dishes , food , personal effects and ship parts -- have been recovered from the seabed . The Costa Concordia is the largest salvage ever attempted -- and the most expensive , at a cost of $ 1.5 billion so far . Nine things to know about the plan to salvage the Costa Concordia . The Costa Concordia salvage by the numbers .
The vessel will be towed to the Italian port of Genoa . Dismantling the cruise ship could take two years . Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: