129 passengers on board when tanker strikes cruise ship in New Orleans
Rescue teams pulled survivors from the Mississippi River after the American Heritage collided with the Atlantic Asphalt at the Port of New Orleans.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
129 passengers were aboard the American Heritage when a tanker struck the five-story cruise ship near the Port of New Orleans on Friday afternoon. The collision occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time. The vessel was docked at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place when the Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit it. Video from the scene showed rescuers in boats moving quickly to pull people wearing life jackets from the water. Luggage and debris floated in the river currents.
The American Heritage is operated by American Cruise Lines and was built in 2015. It has a maximum capacity of 150 passengers. The ship was finishing an eight-day itinerary that included stops in Louisiana and Mississippi. Officials said crew members were also on board at the time of the impact. The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all other vessels in the area to facilitate the rescue operations.
Mayor Helena Moreno’s team confirmed that multiple individuals had been rescued. Survivors were being moved into a Port of New Orleans building adjacent to the dock. Governor Jeff Landry said he was heading to the city after learning of the incident. Authorities did not immediately confirm whether anyone was injured or killed. The Coast Guard issued a statement expressing its concern for the passengers, crew, and families involved.
Rescue efforts continued as the river remained closed to traffic. The Coast Guard noted that the collision involved a passenger vessel and a tanker on the Mississippi River. The ship was positioned outside the port complex when the incident occurred. Local officials coordinated the response from the nearby facility. The American Heritage was the primary vessel involved in the accident.
