Terrifying moment giant cruise ship ‘loses control’, scrapes along boats and nearly crashes into a Venice dock sending crew running for their lives during brutal storm
- The giant Italian cruise ship narrowly missed slamming into a Venice dock
- Costa Deliziosa appears out-of-control amid lashing rain and strong winds
- Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli has ordered an inspection of the incident
- It comes just a month after video showed MSC Opera ram into a city wharf
An Italian cruise ship had just seconds to swerve dry land in a Venice dock after its captain appeared to lose control of the vessel during a heavy storm.
Embattled by poor visibility, lashing rain and strong gusts of wind, Costa Deliziosa narrowly missed slamming into the dock on Sunday.
But the 12-deck cruise ship was unable to avoid scraping a smaller boat moored on the banks of the Sette Martiri.
A terrifying video taken from a bar on the pier shows the vessel appearing to head straight for the shore. Crew members were sent running for their lives during the nail-biting incident.
An Italian cruise ship had just seconds to swerve dry land in a Venice dock after its captain appeared to lose control of the vessel during a heavy storm
Embattled by poor visibility, lashing rain and strong gusts of wind, Costa Deliziosa narrowly missed slamming into the dock on Sunday
The dramatic scene unfolded while the ship was being guided out of port by tug boats along the Giudecca Canal.
The footage shows the cruise liner sounding its emergency horn and swerving alarmingly close to the dock and other vessels as rain lashed down during a howling gale.
‘We saw her coming almost on top of us,’ witness Alberto Peratoner told Ansa news agency.
‘It was at the moment when the storm was at its most intense… [The ship] was having visible difficulty manoeuvring and was heading for the Riva San Biagio dock, veering slightly towards the Riva dei Sette Martiri.’
Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Danilo Toninelli has ordered an inspection, while the city’s prosecutor’s office is looking into the incident.
A spokesperson for Costa Cruises told MailOnline the ship was able to continue its planned route.
A terrifying video taken from a bar on the pier shows the vessel appearing to head straight for the shore
Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Danilo Toninelli has ordered an inspection, while the city’s prosecutor will open an investigation file
A spokesperson for Costa Cruises told MailOnline the ship was able to continue its planned route
‘The violent, extraordinary and sudden meteorological event that affected the entire North East this afternoon, also hit Costa Deliziosa with violent gusts that caused a detour during the passage in the Giudecca Canal in Venice…
‘The Captain has always maintained control of the ship even in conditions of extreme and sudden difficulty.
‘The ship has resumed its course to the planned destination.’
The incident comes just one month after the 13-deck MSC Opera crashed into a city wharf and tourist river boat on the Giudecca Canal, injuring five people.
The collision reignited calls to ban cruise ships in Venice, which has proved to be a contentious issue in the crowded tourist city.
The incident comes just one month after the MSC Opera (pictured) crashed into a city wharf and river boat on the Giudecca Canal, injuring five people