Stricken cruise ship Costa Concordia is preparing to makes its final journey as authorities in Italy prepare to tow the vessel away for scrapping.

Following a painstaking process to re-float the ship over a period of month, Concordia will now be towed to Genoa to be broken up for scrap.

The removal of the ship has been one of the largest ever maritime salvage operations.

Concordia struck a reef off the Italian island of Giglio in January 2012 and capsized, killing 32 people.

The body of Indian waiter Russel Rebello is still missing, with investigators searching the vessel following its re-floating earlier this month.

Concordia was re-floated nine days ago and is being kept above the surface by giant buoyancy chambers.

Over a dozen vessels will help to tow the ship to its final destination, in a journey expected to take four days.

Costa Crociere, owners of the Concordia, have estimate the operation to remove the wreck from the reef and tow it for scrapping will cost £1.2 billion.