Silversea Cruises Fined for Too Close Sail-By in Italy
by Dori Saltzman
The Faraglioni rocks. Photo: Shutterstock.com
Silversea Cruises has been fined by the Italian government after its ship, Silver Ray, maneuvered too close to the Faraglioni rock formations off the coast of Capri, Italy.
As reported by The Maritime Executive, the sail-by was filmed both by passengers onboard Silver Ray, as well as a photographer on land. After reviewing these videos and checking the AIS signal for the ship, Italian authorities confirmed that the ship had come within 1,650 feet of the rock structure, which put it past the minimum distance the ship is permitted.
The resulting fine was €1,032 and the captain of the Silver Ray was issued a formal reprimand by the Italian Coast Guard.
Safe distances are set around most coastal waters as a safety measure. Most infamously, the captain of Costa Concordia breached coastal regulations in January 2012, hitting an unchartered rock and causing the ship to capsize. The accident resulted in the deaths of 32 people.
