CLIA said the recent move of permanently banning large cruise
large ships from transiting through the heart of Venice is a step forward for
the industry. The previous ban of large ships was temporary.
The decision, made by a government panel called the
Comitatone, will set up a docking area in nearby Marghera for ships
larger than 98,000 gross tons.
"CLIA welcomes the decision of the Comitatone, which
meets our twin goals of the long-term protection of Venice's heritage and an
assured future for the valuable cruise economy of Venice and the Adriatic,"
CLIA said. "We are very happy that the authorities have confirmed our
long-held belief in the viability of the Vittorio Emanuele channel, which will
allow larger ships to avoid the San Marco entry, and also the longer-term
Marghera solution."
The decision, and CLIA's endorsement, seems to settle the
controversy that has plagued the cruise industry in Venice for several years.
Activists had mounted protests against large ships, particularly their use of a
route through San Marco and the Giudecca Canal to reach the established Venice
passenger terminal. That route will now be open only to smaller cruise ships.
Marghera is an industrial area about 15 minutes from Venice
proper. Building a suitable terminal there is expected to take four years.