A collision on a busy canal in Port Venice Italy sparked new calls for banning large cruise liners. On Sunday, MSC Opera lost control and people dockside fled as the 13-deck-high liner collided with the Uniworld-owned riverboat River Countess berthed at the pier. During the accident, five people sustained minor injuries and were ambulanced to a hospital.
The cruise ship, which accommodates more than 2,600 people, reported engine troubles as they came into the port, and the tugboats trying to guide the liner in safely were not strong enough.
The accident re-ignited the controversy over the cruise ships, that activists say are simply too large for the fragile city. Many Venetians say "enough is enough," and the incident was a "wake-up call."
Protests were sparked among those who are fed up with the cruise ships, which dwarf the city and argue they endanger the fragile lagoon and change the character of the city.
The picturesque canals of the former maritime republic draw throngs of travelers. The cruise ships, that sail through the Venice Lagoon and Giudecca Canal to dock nearby, exemplify the mass tourism crushing the city, as they bring two million visitors per year.
For other MSC Opera accidents and incidents see at the ship's CruiseMinus page.