MSC Cruise Ship Hits Dock, Tourist Boat in Venice

A cruise ship operated by Swiss MSC Cruises crashed into a dock in Venice today, hitting a tourist boat.

The incident involving MSC Opera occurred at San Basilio Pier in the Giudecca Canal at 8:35 a.m., Italian fire and rescue agency Vigili del Fuoco confirmed.

The 2004-built cruise ship allided with the smaller boat River Countess, which was moored at the pier with 130 people on board.

#2giugno 8:36 Molo San Basilio, #Venezia: nave da crociera scarroccia andando ad urtare la banchina e colpendo un’imbarcazione turistica. Sul posto motobarche e sommozzatori #vigilidelfuoco, situazione sotto controllo pic.twitter.com/m9FpQ2MaCN

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) June 2, 2019

The 2,679-passenger MSC Opera was assisted by two tugs through the canal when it lost control and allided with the dock. The ship may have suffered a blackout or the towing cable broke, according to local media reports. MSC Opera was unable to stop because of strong currents pulling it towards the dock.

Five people sustained injuries and four of them have been taken to a local hospital.

The hull of MSC Opera as well as the tourist boat have been damaged in the incident.

#2giugno 11:00, proseguono le verifiche dei #vigilidelfuoco dopo l’incidente alla nave da crociera sul Molo San Basilio a #Venezia pic.twitter.com/7rJfdbPD0R

— Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) June 2, 2019

Following the incident, repairs, including welding works, have begun on MSC Opera.

World Maritime News Staff