Ship crashes into Genua's harbour tower

The real question is: who built the tower so close to the water that a ship could hit it? And then of course what were those tug boats doing? they had plenty of space in that part of the harbour!

Rule nr 1: don't approach a dock faster than you want to hit it

The ship was a combined RoRo / Container vessel. The Messina terminal is in the extrem northwest of the harbour. The harbour exit is in the southeast of the harbour about about 3 miles away from the terminal. If the vessel was indeed on her way to leave the harbour, her track into the tower was a turn of about 50 to 60 degree to the wrong side. Some news say, she was under tow, others say under assistance of pilot boats (under guidance). Plus the harbour pilot must have been still on the bridge (unless this vessel has an exemption for the mandatory pilot, because it is concidered a home vessel). The width of the canal between the protective barrier and the pier is app. similar to the ships length. So, bigger ships cant turn around 180 degrees and have to leave that narrow harbour in the direction they came in.

The position of the tower was necessary, in order to oversee both parts of the harbour. The new one will for sure be in the same position, being definately better protected. I do remember this harbour as not very roomy.

There must be some kind of technical malfunction associated with this tragedy. Even under tow, big ships must be able to stop a false vector with their own propulsion. Towing big ships in and out of harbour is not like the pushback of airliners when leaving the gate, where the aircraft engines are started later during the push. The ships propulsion has to be on standby, unless the ship is disabled, which can be ruled out in this case, as the cargo liner was on its way to Egypt.

Any tragedy is one tragedy to much. One will find out what happend.

No tugs were involved just 2 pilot boats.
The Captain and the Pilot have been charged for manslaughter, 7 people died.
I'm still not capable to understand how it could happen.
The only rational explanation is that the ship was moving backward from the terminal to harbour exit and made a 180 degree turn in proximity of the Tower, where there's plenty of room actually but not that plenty it seems if something goes wrong.

Everybody here is wordless

As you said, no tugs, just under supervision of pilot boat(s). The harbour pilot was still on the bridge. Even for a turning maneuver, wrong direction. This was a ship on regular service out of its home port. One can only hope, it was (only) a technical malfunction and not human failure.

I do not understand, why a vessel of this size is allowed to make a backtrack type turning maneuver in such narrowness without tug(s) at least in standby. This should only be allowed for double end ferries in such harbours.

And b.t.w. about 3 ship length is narrow for a large (800 ft) single engine vessel, if it slows down below rudder authority speed, even with bow and stern thruster and even more during dawn or dark.

Jolly Nero, IMO 7361233, former Maersk Alaska

Combined RoRo / self loading Container Vessel, 768 feet LOA, 40.500 GT, 1730 TEU + 1500 Lane Meter, build 1976, bought 2006 from Maersk for 8 Mio $. Is this a ship, to ask for tug assistance in tight harbours, especially when going backwards? Does this answer some questions ?????