Tanker Slams Into Cruise Ship in New Orleans With 129 Aboard

A tanker collided with a docked river cruise ship at the Port of New Orleans on Friday afternoon, setting off a large rescue effort on the Mississippi River. Search-and-rescue operations were still ongoing as of 2:10 p.m., according to the office of New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, which said multiple people had been rescued.

The Coast Guard has closed a stretch of the river to all vessel traffic while responders work, a step that affects shipping through one of the country's busiest port areas.

What happened at the port

Kimberly Curth, the Port of New Orleans press secretary, said in a statement that the Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit American Cruise Lines' American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. About 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, were aboard at the time, according to Curth.

FOX 8 Local First reported that the cruise ship was docked on the river outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place. The vessel had docked about two hours earlier so that passengers could begin leaving the ship, the port said. WBRZ, citing WWL, said the collision happened near the Crescent City Connection as passengers were disembarking.

The Guardian reported that an emergency response source said it was possible the tanker had lost power before it struck the American Heritage. That has not been confirmed by officials, and the cause of the crash has not been established.

The rescue effort

An emergency response source told the Guardian that firefighters from New Orleans were among those working to pull multiple people from the water. Curth's statement said port and city police, the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency medical personnel were also at the scene.

Images shared on social media showed the American Heritage on its side, according to the Guardian. One image showed people climbing along the side of the boat, with chairs and tables scattered around. Video from WDSU, a local NBC News affiliate, showed tugboat crew members pulling people wearing life jackets or holding flotation rings out of the river.

WBRZ, citing WWL, reported that 14 people had been rescued by the Creole Queen. The same report said the number of injured people was not yet known. People who made it off the cruise ship were being taken into the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for assistance, according to the port.

What the company and officials said

American Cruise Lines confirmed that the American Heritage was involved in a collision while docked in New Orleans. In a statement, the company said guests and crew were evacuated, that it is coordinating closely with the Coast Guard and local authorities, and that it is deeply concerned for everyone involved. It said it would share more information when it is available.

Gov. Jeff Landry said on social media that he is in close contact with local officials and law enforcement and was headed to New Orleans. Officials said they would hold a news conference at 3 p.m. ET with more updates.

Why it matters for people on and near the river

For passengers and their families, the immediate concern is accounting for everyone who was aboard. The port has said about 129 passengers were on the ship in addition to crew members, but officials had not released a full count of the people rescued or injured. Reports differ on how many have been pulled from the water so far: the mayor's office referred to multiple people, while WWL put the figure from one vessel at 14.

For river traffic, the Coast Guard said the Mississippi is closed to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96, the area where the crash occurred. The agency said the closure is meant to help responders assess the situation and carry out response operations. How long the closure will last was not disclosed, so ships that normally move through that stretch may face delays until the Coast Guard reopens it.

For people in the New Orleans area, the port administration building is serving as a gathering point for those who left the ship, and emergency crews from several agencies remain at the scene.

What happens next

Officials plan to provide updated information at the 3 p.m. ET news conference. Landry is traveling to the city, and the Coast Guard has said it is working with local responders. The cause of the collision, the condition of the people who were aboard and the length of the river closure are among the questions still to be answered.

Around Prague, based on reporting by FOX 8 Local First, The Guardian, WBRZ

Cover photo: Infrogmation / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

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