The gondolas, and the "vaporettos" of Venice will be able to resume their comfortable. As of September, a party of 600 cruise ships that dock each year in the city of the doges will be diverted to the docks surrounding the continent, and will approach most of the city structures, according to the Financial Times. Danilo Toninelli, the minister of Transport Italian comes in effect to announce on Wednesday 7 August that they would be gradually diverted from the historic centre. After the construction of a new marine terminal, the cruise ships will not be able any more to borrow the giudecca canal, which runs along the famous St. Mark's square.

A cruise ship, in front of Venice, on February 10, 2010. Andrea PATTARO / AFP

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The decision follows an incident last June, when the MSC Opera had struck the dock and then rammed another boat. Another maritime incident had been narrowly avoided in July. In addition, according to some opponents to the cruise companies, the economic benefits of these large boats and their customers do not seem obvious : many passengers are choosing, in effect, to eat on board and only spend a few hours in town, without spending as much as tourists "traditional". Venice welcomes 30 million visitors each year.

The incident of June and the damage to the vessel covered by the MSC Opera. Andrea PATTARO / AFP

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The last argument against the ship is without doubt the most important one : the latter would participate in the erosion of the city, the eddies during operations, weakening the foundations of buildings. Venice is mostly built on wooden piles that are several centuries old. Last week, the authorities of Venice have launched an appeal to find a solution to the problems of cruise ships, of impressive dimensions. Some ships exceed 300 meters long, the record being held by the Symphony of the Seas, with 362 meters long, 47 meters wide and 66 meters in height, and can accommodate 6780 passengers. It is five times larger than the Titanic.

The MSC Magnifica appears to arise in the streets of Venice, January 23, 2011. ANDREA PATTARO / AFP

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SEE ALSO , Italy : a boat cruise out of control, struck a dock in Venice

Date Of Update: 11 August 2019, 00:00