MSC Opera΄s visit to Corfu cancelled - cruise ship remains in Venice

Was it an unfortunate incident or engine failure that caused the accident with the cruise ship in Venice's Giudecca Canal? This is what is being investigated by the Italian authorities who, following the international outcry, were compelled to get involved. The cruise ship now remains moored in Venice whilst the possibility of criminal liability is looked into.

The cruise ship MSC Opera crashed into a dock and hit a moored tourist boat, resulting in injuries to five people. Initially it was said to be a minor damage and the following day the company's agents at Corfu Port Authority said that the cruise ship would be visiting Corfu according to programme on Friday 7 June.

Today a short message was sent to Corfu Port Authority informing them that the visit of the cruise ship MSC Opera to Corfu on Friday 7 June has been cancelled.

More voices of protest

More signatures have been added to the statement issued by Gruppo 25 Aprile from Venice - a member of the Network of Citizens of Mediterranean Historical Towns. The statement requests that the authorities designate a safety distance for cruise ships in order to protect towns and their monuments.

Seven Associations from historical towns have put their signatures to the statement (in alphabetical order):

Associazione Progetto Firenze

ex-Artis - Paphos (Cyprus)

Gruppo 25aprile Venezia

Regno di Candia (Crete)

RICHeS- Rhodes International Culture & Heritage Society

San Giacomo Association (Corfu)

Save Cork City, Cork, (Ireland)

Udruga Grad (Dubrovnik)