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Work on the construction of an alternative
canal route for cruise ships through Venice must start as soon as possible,
industry representives have said, after large ships were banned from the
historic centre last month.
The ban had been due to come into effect earlier this year but was overturned by
a regional tribunal, before the Italian government stepped in and declared it
will take effect in 2015. It follows concerns that corrosive smog from cruise
traffic could be threatening the city’s medieval buildings. Activists also claim
that vibrations from the ships might be damaging the city's foundations.
Celebrities including Sir Michael Caine and Julie Christie have recently joined
local pressure groups, such as "No Big Ships", to call for a reduction in the
number of large ships passing through St Mark's Basin.
But industry body the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has urged
the Italian government to agree on an alternative route and begin excavating it
soon, to allow larger cruise ships to continue sailing to Venice.
A delay in construction could mean cruise lines will not be able to sell Venice
itineraries for large ships in 2015.
"We agree that a sustainable solution for Venice requires a new alternative
route for ships and so we are pleased that the Italian government is working
very hard to find a sustainable solution," a spokeswoman for CLIA said. "It is,
however, important that work begins on these new channels as soon as possible in
order that cruise lines can confirm Venice in their itineraries."
Stressing how important Venice is for the entire cruise industry, CLIA said it
was confident however that the "new project will be developed in a timely
manner, so as to allow the cruise industry to operate in Venice while
safeguarding the sustainability and its cultural and environmental heritage."
An environmental report on the impact of excavating an alternative route - the
Contorta-Sant’Angelo canal - is expected to be completed within 90 days.
The ban will exclude all ships exceeding 96,000 tonnes from St Mark’s basin and
the Giudecca Canal in 2015. Guidelines will also restrict visits by smaller
ships of no more than 40,000 tonnes, which will be capped at five per day.
Although the spectacular sail via the centre of Venice is the main draw for many
cruise passengers, the ban does not mean an end to cruising in the city. The
majority of ships are under the 96,000 gross tonne limit – the exceptions are
Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess and Emerald Princess and Celebrity Cruises’
Equinox and Silhouette as well as some Costa Cruises and MSC vessels.
Ships that visit Venice (but are not based there) and are unaffected by tonnage
restriction include those operated by Saga, Silversea, Seabourn, SeaDream,
Azamara, Oceania Cruises and Voyages to Antiquity.
The alternative route proposed for larger ships, detailed in the map below, will
still allow cruises to enter Venice from Marghera, the city's commercial port,
from where cruise passengers would be transported to Venice proper on smaller
vessels via the Giudecca canal.
 Cruise
lines have been reluctant to comment on what the ban means for their
itineraries. P&O Cruises is among those lines that have already made itinerary
alterations on the basis that the new regulations would be in place. It is
offering fly-cruises starting in Venice on Ventura (115,000 tonnes) this year
but will run them using the smaller Oceana (less than 90,000 tonnes) next year.
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