Footage has emerged showing a massive cruise liner narrowly avoiding crashing into a port in Venice during severe weather.
The Costa Deliziosa was filmed veering toward the bank of the Giardini della Biennal in the popular Italian tourist destination during heavy rain, strong winds and lightning.
The huge vessel was being pulled along the canal by other tug boats in order to straighten itself out, narrowly avoiding hitting the dock's edge and other smaller boats near it.
During the clip, the Costa Deliziosa's emergency siren can be heard blasting as it desperately swerves to avoid a collision.
Authorities have now launched an investigation into the incident.
Pino Musolino, president of the Port Authority System for the northern Adriatic Sea, said in a statement: "We reserve the right to start a timely check to see if the ship has received the necessary permits. We also intend to evaluate the adoption of any further measures to ensure that ship traffic takes place in complete safety for the city."
A spokesperson for the Costa Deliziosa told Australian news site Nine that the near miss was due to "violent gusts that caused a detour during the passage in the Giudecca Canal."
The spokesperson added: "The Commander has always maintained control of the ship even in conditions of extreme and sudden difficulty punctuates the company. The ship has resumed its course towards the planned destination."
Danilo Toninelli, the Italian transport minister, has also promised a review into what happened.
"The third tug we imposed was instrumental in avoiding an accident. But that's not enough," he wrote on Facebook. "After 15 years of nothing, we are close to a solution to remove large ships from San Marco. And we will do this by protecting safety, the environment, tourism and employment."
The incident occurred one month after another massive cruise liner, MSC Opera, crashed into a tourist boat on Venice's Giudecca Canal, injuring four people. The incident sparked debate about whether large vessels should be allowed down one of the city's busiest waterways.
The Italian government previously announced plans to ban cruise ships weighing more than 100,000 tons or more from Venice's Grand Canal.
"Today's accident in the port of Venice proves that cruise ships shouldn't be allowed to pass down the Giudecca any more," Toninelli said at the time.
"After many years of inertia, we are finally close to a solution to protect both the lagoon and tourism."
By Ewan Palmer, Newsweek
Re-posted on CruiseCrazies.com - Cruise News, Articles, Forums, Packing List, Ship Tracker, and more
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