Cruise ship crash, Venice

MSC Cruises’ Opera experienced an engine fault in the Giudecca Canal in Venice, Italy, on June 2, causing it to crash into a sightseeing boat and pier, injuring four people.

The presence of cruise ships traveling into the canals of Venice is much criticized, with locals and government officials calling for a ban on large ships within the city. In addition to the potential for accidents, residents contend that the large ships are speeding up the erosion of buildings and polluting canals. At 900 feet long and 177 feet high, the Opera dwarfs every building in Venice.