Hornblower cruise ship crashes into dock in San Diego

Several people were injured after a sightseeing ship crashed into a dock in San Diego.

The Adventure Hornblower hit the Embarcadero just after 1 p.m. local time. Seven people were injured, and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Capt. Joe Amador said three of those hurt were taken to local hospitals.

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Dozens of passengers were stuck on the boat after the crash. At least two people were carried away on stretchers, according to a local reporter.

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The Adventure Hornblower is primarily used for whale and dolphin watching excursions.

Amador says there was apparently a mechanical malfunction that prevented the 150-foot-long ship from stopping in time as it was docking.

A tugboat is working on pulling the vessel away from the pier.

In an email, Hornblower confirmed the "hard landing" to Mashable. 

"Throughout the year Hornblower vessels typically make 150,000 landings without incident," a company spokesperson said. "The Adventure Hornblower, which was built in East Boothbay, Maine, is fully certified by the US Coast Guard and has been used daily for whale watching and harbor cruises for over 15 years."

"With safety as our first priority there will of course be a thorough investigation in cooperation with the US Coast Guard."

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.

UPDATED April 1, 3:50 p.m. ET with video footage.

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