Salvage Crews for the Costa Concordia $A858.5 million-$A1.18 billion worth project had been doing the work since Monday, Sept 16 even with a three-hour delay due to bad weather in the Italian Island of Giglio. Salvage officials estimated that the salvage will be completed Tues by 1900 GMT (0500 AEST).

At a press conference early Tuesday, it was announced that the ship had been lifted by an angle of about 25 degrees towards the vertical axis, with approximately 30 degrees left to be worked on.

"We have entered the final phase of the rotation. The ship is reacting very well because it's rotating in a uniform fashion, which is what we expected, but it's a pleasure to see it confirmed," as announced by Costa Cruise technical team leader Franco Porcellacchia.

Once Costa Concordia was lifted by 24 degrees, crews expect that the cap-sized ship will turn itself erect.

Costa Concordia was once a 14-deck cruise ship where leisure travellers can play in the casino, enjoy four big swimming pools and relax at the largest spa found in the ship.

But it sunk when it hit rocks off the island of Giglio upon the order of its captain, Francesco Schettino. Mr Schettino had been facing trials as he was charged of manslaughter and abandoning ship. He was now popularly called as "Captain Coward" and "Italy's most hated man." There were also four crew members and the head of the ship who had already served prision time because of the accident.

Costa Concordia was carrying 4,229 people from 70 different countries when it cap-sized in Jan 13, 2012. Two bodies remained undiscovered up until this very moment.

During the salvage, Luciano Castro, one of the survivors cannot help himself from being emotional.

"Seeing it re-emerge is emotional for me. I could not miss it. That ship could have been my end and instead I am here to tell the story," Mr Castro told ABC News.

The salvage crews taking orders from Nick Sloane, South Africa's most experienced in the world's biggest shipwrecks, were doing their best not to cause environmental harm. Thousands of tons of toxic waste can possibly pour into the sea. They were successful so far in preventing any form of spillage.

Meanwhile, residents in the nearby area would have to wait a year more as towing away of the Costa Concordia will happen in 2014 after the ship had been scrapped.