Cruise Lines Are Being Compensated for Large Ship Ban in Venice

The Italian government is planning to compensate cruise lines that are affected by the large ship ban in the Venice lagoon.

According to a report in the Local, 57.5 million euros have been allocated to cruise companies affected by the ban, which prohibits the largest vessels from sailing in the lagoon and passing through St Mark’s Basin, St Mark’s Canal or the Giudecca Canal.

Cargo ships and the terminal operator are also receiving compensation of 30 million euros and 27.5 million euros, respectively.

The ban was put into place in August after years of warnings from UNESCO that the ships were causing irreparable damage to the city of Venice.

Critics of the ban point out the new area for large ships, the industrial port at Marghera, is still technically located within the Venice lagoon despite the port being on the mainland. Infrastructure at Marghera is still being built, and smaller cruise ships are allowed to pass by St. Mark’s and the Giudecca canals.