Tanker collides with riverboat in New Orleans, sparking water rescues
Emergency crews launched water rescues on the Mississippi River after an asphalt tanker collided broadside with the docked riverboat American Heritage.
Emergency response crews rushed to the Mississippi River on Friday after an Atlantic Asphalt tanker collided broadside with the docked riverboat American Heritage near the Port of New Orleans. The collision took place at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time, striking the vessel while it was stationed outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place. The river cruiser had docked about two hours earlier to begin passenger disembarkation.
The impact left the cruise ship taking on water, with sources reporting that the vessel was actively sinking and that rescues were underway in the water. At the time of the collision, there were approximately 129 passengers on board, in addition to crew members.
Who is aboard the American Heritage and where are survivors going?
River cruises on the Mississippi traditionally attract elderly passengers, prompting visible concern from state leadership as rescue operations unfolded. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told ABC News, I'm fearing it could be pretty bad,
noting the typical demographic of those on board.
Rescued individuals were brought inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building. Multiple boats conducted water rescues, while rescue teams pulled people directly from the river.
How are agencies responding on the Mississippi River?
Multiple local and federal agencies deployed immediately to the scene, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Orleans Fire Department, and the New Orleans Police Department. Coast Guard Lt. Krystal Wolfe confirmed that responders were actively assessing the situation near mile marker 96.
To facilitate emergency operations, the U.S. Coast Guard shut down the river to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96. Governor Jeff Landry stated on social media that he was in close contact with local officials and law enforcement, and confirmed he was heading to New Orleans.
What do operators and city officials say about the active incident?
American Cruise Lines issued a statement confirming the accident and subsequent evacuations. We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved,
the company said.
A spokesperson for the city confirmed that multiple people had been rescued, stating, Multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing.
What remains unknown about the crash and what can travelers check?
As search-and-rescue operations continued on Friday, the exact number of injuries and the underlying cause of the collision had not yet been confirmed by the Port of New Orleans, which stated, This remains an active and evolving incident.
Passengers and family members affected by the collision should monitor updates directly through local emergency channels, the Port of New Orleans, or American Cruise Lines for official information on passenger reunification points and travel disruptions.
The strike by the Atlantic Asphalt tanker on a stationary, disembarking vessel highlights the vulnerability of passenger ships sharing industrial waterways, leaving investigators with the task of determining how a docked cruiser was struck broadside.
