Video: MSC Opera’s captain and officers to be jailed
The criminal investigation into the 2019 accident in which the cruise liner MSC Opera hit the river cruise ship River Countess has concluded.
The captain and crew of the MSC Opera which hit the river cruise ship River Countess while docking in Venice on 2nd June 2019, will be imprisoned, reports The Maritime Executive. The collision made worldwide headlines and video footage of the accident has strengthened campaigns to ban large cruise ships from docking in Venice.
Eye-witnesses report that the MSC Opera failed to slow down as she neared the dock and possibly even sped up as she ploughed into Uniworld’s River Countess. Passengers aboard the river cruiser scattered as the much larger liner bore down on them and many sustained minor injuries.
Experts witnesses testifying in the case identified several mistakes that the crew of the MSC Opera made and cited the failure of the chief engineer and chief electrician to respond to a warning signal alerting them to a critical electrical malfunction. The court also heard that the ship was travelling above the designated speeds for portions of its transit to the dock.
According to Italian media reports, Captain Carmine Siviero will serve five-month in prison, while the chief engineer and chief electrician will serve two months. Other crew members also found guilty of negligence will serve 10 days behind bars. The officer of the watch, the co-navigator and the security officer were exonerated.
Uniworld has filed a $14m claim for the damages its vessel sustained, as well as lost revenues while the River Countess is repaired. Critics of the large cruise ships that visit Venice say the vessels are causing damage to the culturally important World Heritage city and should be banned.
#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
