Captain Francesco Schettino changed the course of the Costa Concordia on January 13, 2012, primarily to perform a "maritime salute" (inchino) to the island of Giglio. This practice involved bringing the massive cruise ship dangerously close to the shore to blow the horn as a greeting to the local residents and a former colleague living on the island. Schettino intended the maneuver to be a "publicity stunt" and a gesture of respect, but he failed to properly account for the "Le Scole" rock formations that were not on his immediate visual path. The ship struck a reef, tearing a 70-meter gash in the hull. The disaster resulted in 32 deaths and led to Schettino being sentenced to 16 years in prison for manslaughter and abandoning ship. The incident remains a landmark case in maritime law, leading to much stricter regulations regarding how close cruise ships can navigate to coastlines and the mandatory reporting of course deviations.