NEW ORLEANS — Every passenger and crew member was rescued after a large tanker struck a docked Mississippi River cruise ship, causing the passenger vessel to sink and roll onto its side as people scrambled to escape.
The collision happened at about 12:30 p.m. Friday near the Port of New Orleans. The tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit the American Cruise Lines paddlewheeler American Heritage, which had been docked for roughly two hours and was beginning to let passengers off.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said all passengers and crew were accounted for. Thirty-two passengers were taken to hospitals, but none had critical injuries. Two harbor police officers who entered the water during the rescue were also hospitalized in good condition, according to CBS News and the Associated Press.
A rapid evacuation as the ship rolled over
Officials said the tanker appeared to lose control before striking the cruise ship broadside. Passengers began leaving the American Heritage after the impact, but the vessel started sinking and eventually toppled onto its side. Some people entered the river while others climbed across railings as the decks tilted sharply toward the water.
About 180 passengers and crew members were aboard at the time of the incident, Reuters reported. Port officials separately identified approximately 129 passengers, with additional crew members aboard. Roughly 87 passengers had already made it off the vessel before it fully overturned.
Harbor police, firefighters, New Orleans police officers, Coast Guard personnel and emergency medical crews converged on the river. Private boats in the area also joined the response, pulling people from the water and carrying them to safety.
Moreno called the outcome a “miracle on the Mississippi,” crediting the coordinated rescue for preventing any deaths. Video from the scene showed the white paddlewheel vessel lying heavily on its side while emergency boats surrounded it.
Investigators examine possible steering failure
U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said early information suggested the tanker may have experienced a loss of steering. She emphasized that investigators had not determined why the vessel lost control or established a final cause.
The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched a “Go Team” to New Orleans to begin a federal investigation Saturday. Investigators are expected to examine the tanker’s navigation and steering systems, crew actions, communications, voyage data and conditions on the river before the impact.
The Coast Guard closed a roughly three-mile section of the Mississippi River around the scene while responders assessed the damaged vessels and worked on a safe reopening plan. The American Heritage remained significantly damaged, with only part of the ship above the waterline.
Passengers receive medical care and lodging
Hospitals across the LCMC Health system treated the injured passengers. Louisiana officials also secured dozens of hotel rooms for displaced guests, while the American Red Cross provided water, blankets, food and emotional support.
American Cruise Lines said it was arranging accommodations for guests and coordinating with the Coast Guard, New Orleans police and other agencies. The company thanked rescuers and said its immediate focus remained the people affected by the collision.
The American Heritage, built in 2015, is a five-deck river cruise ship designed to carry as many as 150 passengers. It had been scheduled to travel from New Orleans to several stops along the lower Mississippi River.
The investigation is now shifting from the rescue to the central unanswered question: how a large commercial tanker lost control on one of the nation’s busiest waterways and struck a passenger vessel tied to the dock.
Featured image: Conceptual editorial illustration of the collision response.
