NEW ORLEANS, La. — A cargo tanker that officials say “lost control” crashed into a docked river cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon. The paddlewheeler capsized and passengers were thrown into the water. Thirty-two people were taken to hospitals, and officials say everyone on board has been accounted for.
According to port officials, the Marshall Islands-flagged asphalt tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit the American Cruise Lines riverboat American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. local time. The cruise ship was tied up at the Port of New Orleans, just below the Crescent City Connection bridge.
PASSENGERS FORCED INTO THE RIVER
The Port of New Orleans said about 129 passengers, plus crew members, were aboard the American Heritage when it was hit. Video from the riverfront shows the much larger tanker striking the cruise ship broadside on its port side.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said the cruise ship began to sink as passengers were getting off. It then rolled over and flipped, leaving some people in the water. She said at least 180 passengers and crew were rescued.
Port of New Orleans Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll said the first 87 passengers got off while the ship was still afloat. She said river conditions were normal at the time, with no unusually strong current.
The mayor said all 32 people in the hospital have non-critical injuries. No deaths have been reported, and officials say no one is missing.
RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION
The U.S. Coast Guard, New Orleans Fire Department, New Orleans Police Department, EMS crews and Port NOLA Harbor Police responded to the scene. Passengers were taken to the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for help and medical checks.
The tanker was brought under control at about 2 p.m. local time, with tugboats on either side of it.
The cause of the collision is under investigation. Officials have not said whether the tanker had a mechanical or propulsion failure.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry traveled to New Orleans after the crash. He said state officials were in close contact with local leaders and law enforcement.
In a statement, American Cruise Lines confirmed the American Heritage was involved in a collision while docked and said guests and crew had been evacuated. The company said it is coordinating with the Coast Guard and local authorities and is “deeply concerned for everyone involved.”
ABOUT THE VESSELS
The American Heritage is a U.S.-flagged, five-deck paddlewheel riverboat built in 2015 that carries up to 150 guests. It was finishing an eight-day Mississippi River cruise with stops in Louisiana and Mississippi, and was arriving in New Orleans from Natchez.
Ship-tracking data shows the Atlantic Asphalt, about 525 feet long, began its current voyage in Paulsboro, New Jersey, on Oct. 26 and arrived in New Orleans on Nov. 11.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
