Rescue operations are underway on the Mississippi River following a collision between a petroleum tanker and a docked cruise ship near New Orleans.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., the Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Cruise Lines vessel American Heritage. The cruise ship had docked about two hours prior near 1350 Port of New Orleans Place to begin passenger disembarkation. At the time of the impact, approximately 129 passengers and an undisclosed number of crew members were aboard the riverboat.
Multiple agencies—including Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire and Police departments, the U.S. Coast Guard, and emergency medical personnel—responded to the scene. First responders pulled individuals from the water, while rescued passengers were directed to the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for triage and support.
Officials confirmed that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the incident. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced he is traveling to New Orleans to coordinate with local authorities, and New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno issued a statement emphasizing that rescue operations and public safety coordination remain ongoing.
In response to the emergency, the U.S. Coast Guard instituted a partial river closure, shutting down vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 on the Mississippi River. Additionally, Regional Transit Authority (RTA) ferry services across the river have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
Authorities stated that the cause of the allision and the final count of injuries remain unconfirmed as the situation continues to develop.
