Being controlled by operatives working in a specially equipped shipping container on board the search vessel, the Seahorse Spirit, the joystick-controlled camera will be deployed as soon as the ship returns to the wreck site - probably this week, provided conditions are favourable.

It will circle the wreck at a depth of 2000m and transmit the first images seen of the hospital ship since it was sunk without warning by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine in 1943. Of the 332 people on board, only 64 survived.

Special lighting will be used to illuminate the wreck so high-definition video can be recorded.

Using crab-like arms, the ROV will then place a commemorative plaque in honour of the 268 people killed.

Acting Premier Paul Lucas and Centaur search director David Mearns inspected the ROV, the Remora 3, on Wednesday.

Mr Lucas said receiving news of Centaur's discovery was "an unforgettable moment".

"It will be an extremely poignant time for the survivors and relatives of those who perished on this ship when this machine sends us images of the wreck on the seabed."

Mr Mearns said swift currents at the wreck site would pose a challenge to capturing the images but should be manageable.

He said the images were important, as the wreck site was a war grave and diving would be prohibited.

Cleveland resident Pam Gilbert, whose father and uncle were both drivers with the 2/12 Field Ambulance Unit and died onboard Centaur when it was sunk, said she was looking forward to seeing the images.

"I was always of the opinion that I didn't want it (AHS Centaur) found but when I heard they'd found it I got a feeling of excitement and was so pleased," she said.

The wreck site is about 50 kilometres due east of the southern tip of Moreton Island at a depth of 2059 metres.

The $4 million search for the Centaur was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State governments.