With news of another incident in the Canals of Venice this week, the debate is raging about how to best deal with the large cruise ships that claim berthing space in the port.
The 66,000 tonnes MSC Opera unceremoniously crashed into the dock taking out Uniworld’s European river cruise ship River Countess in the process. The incident occurred at about 8.30 am on the 2nd of June and left 5 people injured. Video footage shows passengers leaping from the gangway of the River Countess as the much larger ship was steaming toward them.
The protest group No Grandi Navi wants to see the end of cruise ships in Venice sighting the degradation of the lagoons foundations as one of the things the ships are to blame for. Among other triggers is the overwhelming demand thousands of cruise ship passengers put on tourist locations and the increased pollution levels in the harbour.
Ships like Opera have become part of the skyline when taking the famous gondola rides through the canals of Venice, the No Big Ships movement would however like to see this changed. The government has plans in place currently to ban all ships over 55000 tonnes from entering the lagoon starting from 2021. This however leaves many wondering if it is enough to stem the flow of damage being caused.
What do you think? Should the powers that be place exclusions on ships of a certain tonnage?
Should all ships be banned from entering the lagoon altogether and be forced to tender ashore?
What would these changes do to the tourist economy of Venice?
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
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