Several people were injured when a cruise ship crashed on Thursday into a pier in downtown San Diego.

A 150-foot Adventure Hornblower with 139 passengers on board smashed into the Embarcadero harbour due to technical malfunction. Seven people were injured and three were hospitalised as a result of the violent stop. None of the passengers sustained injuries that were life-threatening.

The 22-year-old ship, which offers short cruises, whale-watching tours and chartered events, could be heard on the video repeatedly sounding its horn as it approached the pier.