Hornblower Ship Plows Into Wharf, Injuring Seven

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Seven passengers were injured today when a 150-foot cruise ship crashed into the wharf alongside the downtown Broadway Pier.

The bow of the Adventure Hornblower struck the edge of the brick-topped waterfront promenade in the Embarcadero area of San Diego Harbor shortly before 1 p.m., according to the city Fire-Rescue Department.

Medics evaluated and treated seven adults for various complaints --including back and neck strains and blood-pressure irregularities -- and took three of them to a hospital for further care, fire Capt. Joe Amador said. Some
of the patients were carried off the vessel on stretchers.

None of injuries were considered life-threatening.

The unhurt passengers remained aboard the three-deck ship in the mid-afternoon, awaiting a tugboat pull to an undamaged disembarking location.

Crew members reported struggling with a malfunction in the ship's propulsion system prior to the impact with the dock, Amador said.

The U.S. Coast Guard will investigate the mishap.

The 22-year-old Adventure Hornblower offers bay dinner cruises, sightseeing tours, chartered events and ocean whale-watching outings.

• Also see: Two Years Behind Bars For Man Who Took 'Hornblower' On Joy Ride

--City News Service/Shutterstock image