A tanker collided with the American Heritage cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, partially submerging the vessel and hospitalizing more than 30 people. No fatalities were reported in the incident.
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the docked American Heritage cruise ship at 12:30 PM. The cruise ship had 129 passengers and an unspecified number of crew members aboard at the time of the collision, according to Kimberly Curth, a spokesperson for the Port of New Orleans.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno described the event as “a miracle on the Mississippi,” adding that none of those hospitalized sustained critical injuries. Local witness Devon Flanagan described the scene as “chaos,” with initial rescue efforts complicated by people still in the water.
Footage showed the paddlewheel cruise boat, the American Heritage, tipping onto its side and becoming partly submerged after the impact. Rescue teams were seen pulling people in life jackets from the water. At least 180 passengers and crew were rescued.
Port police, city firefighters, police officers, the US Coast Guard, and emergency teams were on the scene conducting rescue operations. The US Coast Guard has closed all vessel traffic at Algiers Point.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was aware of the incident and in close contact with local officials and law enforcement. US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said his department was coordinating closely with state officials and deploying all available assets to rescue missing passengers.
American Cruise Lines, which operates the American Heritage, issued a statement saying, “guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved.” The Port of New Orleans stated its immediate priority was the safety of all passengers, crew members, and first responders.
The American Heritage cruise ship, built in 2015, is a classic paddlewheeler with a capacity for up to 180 passengers. The Atlantic Asphalt tanker, registered in the Marshall Islands and built in 2017, may have lost control, according to Mayor Moreno. The cruise ship had been docked for approximately two hours to disembark passengers before the collision.
Background
- The American Heritage cruise ship, built in 2015, was finishing an eight-day cruise to several Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
- The Atlantic Asphalt tanker, registered in the Marshall Islands, was built in 2017 and arrived in New Orleans on November 11 after departing Paulsboro, New Jersey, on October 26.
What happens next
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated an investigation would be launched to determine the cause of the incident.
