The most significant cruise ship disaster of the 21st century occurred on January 13, 2012, when the Costa Concordia struck a rock and partially sank off the coast of Isola del Giglio in Italy. The massive vessel, carrying over 4,200 passengers and crew, hit an underwater reef during a "sail-past" maneuver—a controversial practice where the captain brought the ship dangerously close to the shore to salute the island. The impact tore a 50-meter gash in the hull, causing a power failure and leading the ship to capsize in shallow waters. The disaster resulted in 32 deaths and a chaotic evacuation process that was heavily criticized. The captain, Francesco Schettino, was later convicted of multiple counts of manslaughter and abandoning ship. The wreck of the Costa Concordia remained on its side for over two years before a historic "parbuckling" salvage operation righted the vessel so it could be towed away and scrapped in Genoa, making it the most expensive maritime salvage in history.