River Countess BV and Others v MSC Cruise Management (UK) Ltd (The “MSC Opera”) – QBD (Comm Ct) (Andrew Baker J) [2021] EWHC 2652 (Admlty) – 4 October 2021

Admiralty – Collision action – Cruise liner colliding with smaller vessel in Venice – Cruise liner wholly liable for collision – Claimants bringing proceedings against cruise line operator claiming damages under various heads – Italian law applying to claims – Preliminary issue determined as to whether claims for non-physical loss recoverable from defendant

On 2 June 2019 the ocean-going cruise liner MSC Opera, operated by the defendant, ran into the inland cruise ship River Countess, which was berthed at the San Basilio Pier in the Giudecca Canal in Venice.