Italy's highest officials are calling for an immediate cruiseship ban for Venice's Giudecca Canal after an MSC cruiseship crashed upon losing control along the city's main thoroughfare.
The 2,675-berth MSC Opera (built 2004) slammed into a dock and river tourist boat today along the busy waterway leading to St. Mark's Square, injuring four elderly women, Associated Press reports.
The ship reportedly blared its horn as people on the dock ran away in panic during the accident that took place at about 8:30 a.m. local time.
Geneva-based MSC Cruises said the ship was having mechanical problems as it was docking at the time but is still trying to determine the exact cause of the incident, AP reports.
Danilo Tononelli, Italy's transport minister, said the accident proves that cruiseships should not be allowed to go down the canal anymore.
"After many years of inertia, we are finally close to a solution to protect both the lagoon and tourism," he is quoted as saying in the AP story.
The ship is being docked at a terminal where bigger ships moor at the city's waterfront.
