New Orleans: A tanker struck a docked river cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, November 13, causing the five-story vessel to take on water, capsize and leave passengers in need of rescue.
The New Orleans boat crash involved the American Heritage, operated by American Cruise Lines, and the much larger Atlantic Asphalt tanker. The collision happened near the Port of New Orleans at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time.
The American Heritage had docked roughly two hours earlier to begin passenger disembarkation. About 129 passengers, along with crew members, were aboard when the tanker struck the vessel.
The impact caused the cruise ship to tilt and eventually roll onto its side. People wearing life jackets were seen in the Mississippi River as emergency crews and nearby vessels rushed to assist those in the water.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said all passengers and crew members had been accounted for following the rescue operation. Officials reported no fatalities, while 32 people were taken to hospitals with noncritical injuries.
Two New Orleans Harbor Police officers were among those hospitalized after helping with the evacuation. Authorities said no one aboard the Atlantic Asphalt tanker was injured in the incident.
The rescue involved the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of New Orleans Harbor Police, New Orleans Fire Department and New Orleans Police Department. Private boat operators also helped pull people from the river.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry described the outcome as a “literal miracle on the Mississippi” after officials confirmed that everyone aboard the cruise ship had been accounted for.
The New Orleans boat crash prompted a temporary closure of part of the Mississippi River to vessel traffic while emergency responders worked at the scene. Officials coordinated rescue operations and assistance for displaced passengers.
The tanker appeared to have experienced a steering problem, according to initial reporting, but authorities had not established the cause of the collision. The U.S. Coast Guard said the incident remained under investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board planned to investigate the crash. Its response was initially delayed by nationwide flight disruptions linked to an air traffic control communications problem.
American Cruise Lines said guests and crew members had been evacuated. The company was arranging hotel accommodations and assistance for passengers affected by the incident.
Many passengers were left without personal belongings, including phones, identification and keys. Officials and cruise line representatives worked to help travelers contact relatives, arrange lodging and organize transportation.
