Venezia, l'incubo delle grandi navi - La vita in diretta 13/09/2019

Summary

This video highlights the growing controversy over the passage of large cruise ships through Venice's waterways, particularly the Giudecca Canal. The narrative explores recent incidents, including collisions with smaller boats and the danger posed by these massive vessels to both tourists and the city's heritage. The discussion also includes insights from the Italian Minister for Culture, Dario Franceschini, who emphasizes the urgent need to resolve the issue. As the city faces potential loss of its UNESCO World Heritage status, the future of cruise tourism in Venice hangs in the balance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The issue of large cruise ships passing through Venice has been a topic of ongoing controversy, particularly due to safety concerns and environmental impact.
• 😀 The large cruise ships, some weighing up to 60,000 tons, pose significant risks, including accidents such as the collision with a tourist boat and dock in June.
• 😀 In July, a near-miss incident occurred when a cruise ship almost collided with a waterfront during a heavy storm, leading to panic among both tourists and locals.
• 😀 The passage of these massive ships disrupts the city’s visual landscape, with the enormous ships overshadowing the city’s historic canals and architecture.
• 😀 The potential danger posed by these cruise ships to Venice’s UNESCO World Heritage status has been a growing concern, with discussions on limiting their passage.
• 😀 The Venice lagoon is at risk of losing its UNESCO World Heritage status due to the environmental damage and the increasing frequency of large cruise ships.
• 😀 The impact of these ships on Venice is not just visual; they also affect local infrastructure, leading to physical damage and raising the question of whether the city can handle the influx of large vessels.
• 😀 The new Minister of Culture and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, has expressed urgency in resolving the issue, aiming to halt the passage of large ships through St. Mark’s Square by the end of the current government’s mandate.
• 😀 The debate includes balancing the economic benefits brought by cruise tourists with the detrimental effects on the city’s preservation and local quality of life.
• 😀 The season for these cruise ships peaks during the weekends in late summer and autumn, which exacerbates the issue, as many tourists flock to Venice, increasing the city's dependency on the cruise industry despite its drawbacks.

Q & A

What issue is being discussed in this transcript?

The issue being discussed is the passage of large cruise ships through the canals of Venice, specifically the Giudecca Canal, and the controversies surrounding this practice.

Why is the passage of large cruise ships in Venice controversial?

The passage of large cruise ships is controversial due to their massive size and the risk they pose to the city, both in terms of physical damage to structures like docks and boats, as well as environmental concerns. There have been incidents, such as collisions with boats and damage to the dock, which have raised alarms.

What specific incident is mentioned in the script?

The script mentions an incident on June 2, where a cruise ship collided with a boat and a dock, resulting in four injuries. It also highlights a near-collision on July 7, where a ship came dangerously close to the shore during a storm.

What impact do these large ships have on Venice's cultural heritage?

These large ships are threatening the preservation of Venice's cultural heritage. The sheer size of the vessels changes the city's iconic views and poses risks to the delicate lagoon ecosystem, which has led to concerns that Venice might be removed from UNESCO's list of world heritage sites.

What measures are being taken to address this issue?

The government, including Italy's Minister for Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Dario Franceschini, has pledged to find solutions to the problem, with the commitment to prevent large ships from passing near the San Marco area. Plans are being discussed to limit the ships' access to certain parts of the city, though specific solutions are still under debate.

How large are the cruise ships passing through Venice?

The cruise ships passing through Venice can be enormous. One ship mentioned in the transcript measures 251 meters in length (almost three soccer fields) and has a capacity for 2,200 passengers and 700 crew members. These ships are 27 meters wide and almost 50 meters tall.

What are the benefits that these ships bring to Venice?

Despite the environmental and structural concerns, the cruise ships bring significant economic benefits to Venice. They contribute to the local economy by bringing in tourists, which helps sustain various businesses in the city, particularly during the peak tourist season.

How does the presence of these ships affect the experience of Venice's tourists?

For many tourists, seeing these massive ships in the canals changes the aesthetic experience of Venice. While the ships are a spectacle themselves, they disrupt the historical and natural beauty of the city, altering the picturesque views that have been admired for centuries.

What is the stance of the new Italian Minister for Cultural Heritage and Tourism on this issue?

The new Minister, Dario Franceschini, has emphasized that the passage of large ships near Venice must be stopped. He has committed to finding a solution before the end of the current government's term, specifically ensuring that ships no longer pass near significant sites like San Marco.

How do the local authorities intend to resolve the issue of large cruise ships?

The local authorities are working on solutions to redirect the cruise ships, possibly by implementing measures to limit their access to certain canals or areas of the city. Franceschini mentioned that multiple studies have already been conducted, and the government is aiming for a quick decision to preserve Venice's heritage.