The MSC Opera suffered a technical failure yesterday while approaching Venice's cruise ship docks, assisted by two tugboats. As a result, it collided with the San Basilio dock and also with the River Countess, a ship belonging to the Uniworld river cruise company.
MSC Cruises has issued a statement expressing its willingness to cooperate with authorities to understand and clarify the exact causes of the accident. The ship did not sustain major damage and was authorized to move to the Maritime Terminal as planned, where it was able to resume normal passenger operations.
The River Countess sustained extensive damage, and four passengers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, accompanied by company personnel. No crew members were injured. The accident occurred after most of the River Countess's 130 passengers had already disembarked and were being transferred to the airport to return home.
A Uniworld technical team has been sent to Venice to assess the ship's condition and take the necessary actions. Passengers who were scheduled to board yesterday have been relocated to hotels.
At the same time, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has issued a statement supporting the solution agreed with local and regional authorities to eliminate cruise ship traffic through the Giudecca Canal:
CLIA Cruise Lines welcomes the statements by the Mayor of Venice demanding an urgent solution that would allow cruise ships to enter Venice's cruise terminals via an alternative route to the Giudecca Canal. CLIA Cruise Lines recognizes that its viewpoint is supported by many people locally, regionally, and within the national government.
CLIA member lines have been actively involved for quite some time in discussions about using the Vittorio Emmanuelle Canal as a solution, and have been cooperating in simulations and studies that resulted in the Comitatone committee's recommendation.
CLIA urges all parties in Venice to reach an agreement to begin preparatory work to dredge the Vittorio Emanuele canal and start diverting larger ships.
Adam Goldstein, CLIA Chairman, said, “The cruise industry has worked diligently with the Mayor of Venice, the Veneto Region, the Port Authority, and many others to find a viable solution that would allow larger cruise ships to access cruise ship docks without passing through the Giudecca Canal. We agree with the solution developed by Comitatone (an interministerial committee to coordinate and monitor safety in the Venetian Lagoon) in 2018 to use the Vittorio Emanuele Canal as the best and most prudent way to divert large cruise ships away from the Giudecca Canal. CLIA cruise lines welcome this solution and support its urgent implementation.”
