The captain of Silversea Cruises’ Silver Ray has received a formal warning and a fine after the luxury cruise ship sailed into protected waters near the famous Faraglioni of Capri.
The incident occurred on 3rd May 2025.
The 801-foot vessel, which was operating an 11-night voyage from Barcelona, Spain, to Rome, Italy, was captured on video sailing within 500 meters (1,640 feet) of the iconic rock formations – a restricted zone established to protect the region’s fragile marine ecosystem.
The incident came to light after an Italian environmental association, Legambiente, submitted video footage of Silver Ray’s close approach to the Italian Coast Guard.
Officials used Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to confirm the ship’s route, verifying that it had entered the restricted waters.
As a result, the cruise line was issued a fine of €1,032, and the ship’s captain received a formal written warning from the Campanian Maritime Authority.
Although the fine may seem small for a luxury cruise line, which earns millions in annual revenue, it sends a strong message about the importance of adhering to marine protection laws.
Environmental Concerns
The waters around the Faraglioni of Capri are protected for a reason.
This area is home to several endangered species, including rare coral, a variety of fish, the blue lizard (a subspecies of the Italian wall lizard), and the Mediterranean monk seal, which has recently been sighted in the region.
Sailing a large vessel too close to these fragile ecosystems poses a significant risk, both to the wildlife and the ship itself.
Although the Silver Ray did not cause any documented damage, the incident has drawn comparisons to the Costa Concordia tragedy of 2012, when a similar “salute manoeuvre” led to a catastrophic shipwreck that claimed 32 lives.
In response to the incident, Legambiente’s Capri chapter is calling for the waters surrounding Capri to be officially designated as a Marine Protected Area, with stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Silversea Cruises has not yet released a statement regarding the incident.
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