Gondoliers in Venice will be required to have GPS

Venice - Gondolas and other vessels on the Venetian Grand Canal and side canals will have to be equipped with navigation devices starting September 15 due to heavy traffic. These devices are intended to improve speed and position control of boats in the historic city center.
     Controls of boat traffic in Venice are to be tightened in the interest of preventing collisions, explained city transport councilor Ugo Bergamo in the local newspaper La Nuova di Venezia.
     GPS devices will have to be installed not only on gondolas and water taxis but also on boats transporting goods.
     The problem in the Venetian canals is not only the excessive number of vessels but also frequent violations of the allowed speed limits. Fast boats also create wake that further contributes to the undermining of the city built on a sandy lagoon. Additionally, security cameras are to be newly installed along smaller canals.