Tanker Slams Into Riverboat Carrying 129 Passengers in New Orleans, Triggering Frantic Mississippi River Rescue
The tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked riverboat American Heritage near the Port of New Orleans around midday Friday, partially submerging the vessel and shutting down river traffic as rescuers raced to pull passengers to safety.
A tanker collided with a riverboat carrying roughly 129 passengers on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, partially submerging the vessel and triggering a frantic, multi-agency rescue effort along one of the busiest waterways in the country.
The collision happened around 12:30 p.m. local time when the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck American Cruise Lines' riverboat American Heritage while it was docked outside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, according to local officials and multiple news outlets. The impact partially submerged the passenger vessel, though it remained docked rather than adrift.
Rescuers Scramble as River Shuts Down
Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical crews all responded to the scene, according to WBRZ's on-the-ground coverage. Passengers were evacuated and brought inside the nearby Port of New Orleans Administration Building as crews worked to account for everyone aboard. By 2 p.m., the river had been closed to vessel traffic in the area, per WDSU's live updates.
American Cruise Lines confirmed guests and crew were evacuated from the American Heritage, saying in a statement that the company is deeply concerned for everyone involved. The exact number of injuries had not been confirmed as of Friday afternoon, and the cause of the collision remained under investigation.
DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was traveling to New Orleans in response to the incident, according to FOX reporting, underscoring the scale of the emergency response on a waterway that handles enormous volumes of commercial shipping traffic daily near one of the country's busiest ports.
What's Next
The Coast Guard and Port of New Orleans are expected to release updated details on injuries, the final passenger count and the cause of the collision as the investigation continues. River traffic is expected to stay restricted near the Crescent City Connection area until officials clear the scene.