Updated: Costa Concordia Uprighted After Capsizing

Updated 8:40 p.m. Sept. 17, 2013

After 19 hours, the Costa Concordia was uprighted off of Italy, according to a Minnesota Public Radio report. Check out video of the operation here.

Original post Sept. 16, 2013

An effort in Italy is underway to raise the wreck of the Costa Concordia, the Italian cruise ship on which Gerald and Barbara Heil of White Bear Lake died after it capsized more than a year ago.

The recovery effort began Monday morning to life the cruise ship, according to an Associated Press report.

“Cameras did not immediately reveal any sign of two bodies that were never recovered from among the 32 people who died during the disaster,” Engineer Sergio Girotto told reporters, according to the Associated Press. The bodies of Italian passenger and of a waiter were never found.

When the Costa Concordia is upright, CNN reported it “will be months” before contents are removed and returned to passengers.

Captain Francesco Schettino faces charges of manslaughter, causing a maritime disaster and abandoning ship with passengers still on board, according to the CNN report.  

Related at St. Michael Patch: 

• Italy Calls off Search aboard Sunken Cruise Ship

• Bodies of Albertville Man's Parents Identified