Why Did MSC Cruise Ship Crash?

By Robert Palmer

On October 22, 2019, MSC Cruises’ flagship vessel MSC Opera collided with a small tourist boat while sailing along the Giudecca Canal in Venice, Italy. The crash caused considerable damage to both vessels and sent four people to the hospital with minor injuries.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it appears that human error may have been involved. According to reports from Italian authorities, the captain of the MSC Opera was attempting to dock at a nearby pier when he lost control of the ship and it veered off course. Witnesses on board a nearby boat reported that the ship’s engines were still running when it made contact with the smaller vessel.

The incident has sparked outrage among Venetians and environmentalists who have long been concerned about cruise ships navigating through their city’s canals. There are strict regulations in place limiting the size and speed of vessels navigating through Venice’s canals, but in recent years there has been an increase in large cruise ships entering and leaving Venice’s port as tourism has grown.

Investigation into Causes

In order to better understand why this accident occurred, Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. They are looking into all aspects of what happened including whether or not any regulatory or safety protocols were violated by either vessel. The investigation is expected to take several months before a final report is issued.

Calls for Change

In light of this accident, many Venetians are calling for stricter regulations regarding cruise ships entering their city’s canals. They argue that larger vessels should be banned from navigating through Venice’s canals altogether and that smaller vessels should be subject to more stringent safety protocols while operating in such confined spaces.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, why MSC Cruise Ship crashed is still under investigation; however, it appears that human error may have been a factor as well as a lack of stricter regulations governing cruise ships navigating through Venice’s canals. In response to this incident, local authorities are now calling for tighter restrictions on these types of vessels operating within their city limits.