Mystery & Tragedy on Italy’s Lake Maggiore — Fatal Boating Accident a Birthday Celebration or a “Spy Party”?

On Sunday, an overloaded chartered houseboat on Italy’s Lake Maggiore was caught in a sudden, violent storm and capsized, killing four of the 21 passengers and two crew. Sadly, this sort of boating accident, while tragic, is not entirely out … Continue reading

Under Pressure, Italy Bans Large Cruise Ships from Venice Lagoon

The Italian government is banning large cruise ships from calling on the Venice lagoon after declaring the lagoon a national monument. Italy had come under pressure from Unesco, the UN’s heritage agency, that threatened to put Venice on its endangered … Continue reading

Over-Budget, Long Delayed and Scandal Ridden, Venice’s MOSE Works in First Real Test

Venice, Italy is sinking at about 1mm per year. The sea level in the Northern Adriatic is rising. At peak tidal conditions, referred to as acqua alta, almost half of Venice’s streets have been known to flood.  None of this … Continue reading

Container/Ro-Ro Ship Jolly Nero Topples Genoa Port Tower, At Least 7 Dead

The container/ro-ro ship Jolly Nero  slammed into the port control tower in Genoa, Italy on Tuesday night around 11PM, destroying the 165 ft-tall cement tower and killing at least seven.  Four people were reported to be injured  and at least two are still missing.  … Continue reading

Video of Proposed Costa Concordia Salvage

Last Friday we posted about a presentation made by the Titan-Micoperi consortium detailing their plans to salvage the Costa Concordia from the where she sank on January 13th off the island of Giglio, Italy.  The plan is to build an underwater platform onto which the ship … Continue reading

Update: Costa Concordia – Three Survivors Found Aboard, Missing Down to 17, Captain Detained

A Korean couple on their honeymoon, who had been trapped below decks on the cruise ship Costa Concordia for over 24 hours after the ship ran aground and sank in shallow water near the island of Giglio, off Italy’s Tuscan coast, were rescued yesterday.  A third … Continue reading

Thousands Evacuated as Cruise Ship Costa Concordia Strikes Reef Off Italy – At Least Three Dead

Just two hours after leaving port in Civitavecchia, the cruise ship Costa Concordia hit a reef near the island of Giglio, off Italy’s Tuscan coast, reportedly ripping a 165-foot gash in its hull.  The ship began flooding and rolled on its … Continue reading

Over 500 Libyan Refugees Rescued off Italy near Lampedusa Island

In April we posted about the sinking of an overloaded fishing boat carrying Libyan refugees where over 200 drowned.   Today it was reported that another overloaded refugee boat in the roughly the same area sank with over 500 people aboard. Fortunately, the Italian … Continue reading