Mississippi collision: Tanker strikes cruise boat in New Orleans
A tanker hit the American Heritage, which was docking with 129 people aboard, causing the vessel to partially submerge.
By Alyssa Parker ·
A collision on the Mississippi River has forced a major rescue operation in New Orleans after a tanker struck a docked cruise vessel. The impact occurred on Friday afternoon, partially submerging the paddleboat and triggering a multi-agency response.
The incident began when the American Heritage arrived at its dock approximately two hours before the crash. The vessel was in the process of disembarking passengers when the Atlantic Asphalt tanker made contact. The Port of New Orleans confirmed the collision happened around 12:30 pm local time, or 18:30 GMT.
The American Heritage is a five-deck ship built in 2015 with a capacity of 150 people. At the time of the strike, it was finishing an eight-day itinerary covering Louisiana and Mississippi. The vessel carried 129 passengers and crew. American Cruise Lines, the operator, stated that all guests and staff had been evacuated and expressed deep concern for those involved.
The Atlantic Asphalt is a 160-meter tanker registered in the Marshall Islands. MarineTraffic data indicates the ship was bound for New Orleans. Marine Insights notes the vessel specializes in transporting asphalt and bitumen. The cause of the collision and the status of its cargo load remain undetermined.
Rescue teams from port police, the fire department, the coastguard, and emergency medical services are managing the scene. A triage area is established in the port’s administration building. The river is closed to vessel traffic. Video footage captured the moment of impact, showing metal and glass shattering as the larger ship struck the smaller boat.
More than a dozen people in life jackets were pulled from the water, which was 19 degrees Celsius. Jamie Holford, a witness who spoke to local television, described the scene as surreal. Holford noted that the boat rolled over within fifteen minutes of the impact. A city spokesperson said multiple individuals have been rescued and that search-and-rescue operations are ongoing. Authorities have not yet released data on injuries or fatalities.
