Which Cruise Ship Hit the Dock?

By Anna Duncan

On the 16th of August, 2018, a cruise ship called the MSC Opera struck the dock near San Basilio Pier in Venice, Italy. The ship had left from the port of Civitavecchia and was heading to Croatia when it hit the pier.

The accident was caused by a mechanical failure on board the vessel. A sudden gust of wind caused the ship to drift off course and collide with the pier. There were no reported injuries or fatalities onboard or on land, however several boats were damaged in the incident.

The incident sparked outrage among many locals in Venice who accused cruise ships of damaging their city’s environment and disrupting their daily lives. The Italian government has since put new regulations in place that limit the size of ships allowed to pass through certain areas of Venice, as well as increasing fines for those that do not comply with these restrictions.

The MSC Opera is owned by MSC Cruises and is a 4,363-passenger vessel that was built in 2004. It is one of the largest cruise ships ever built and features numerous amenities such as five swimming pools, 13 bars and lounges, an outdoor movie theater, a spa and fitness center, and multiple dining venues.

Conclusion:

The MSC Opera is responsible for hitting the dock at San Basilio Pier in Venice on August 16th, 2018 due to a mechanical failure onboard causing it to drift off course. There have been new regulations put into place by the Italian government following this incident to limit cruise ship sizes passing through certain areas of Venice as well as increasing fines for those that do not comply with these regulations.