Tanker Collides with Docked Cruise Ship Near Port of New Orleans
A tanker ship collided with a docked river cruise vessel near the Port of New Orleans on the Mississippi River, prompting an extensive emergency response and water rescues, according to local and federal officials.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. when the Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Cruise Lines riverboat. City of New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno stated during a news conference that between 180 and 190 people were onboard the cruise ship at the time of the collision. Officials confirmed that all passengers have been accounted for and that no critical injuries or deaths resulted from the major crash.
Thirty-two people were transported to local hospitals for non-critical injuries. Two harbor police officers who fell into the water while assisting with passenger evacuations were also hospitalized and listed in good condition. First responders, firefighters, and nearby vessels deployed ladders and watercraft to rescue individuals from the water and the listing ship.
U.S. Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham stated that the tanker appeared to have experienced a loss of steering controlled by a river pilot, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The Coast Guard temporarily closed passages along the Mississippi River to secure the area and facilitate recovery efforts before aiming to reopen the waterway to one-way traffic. The National Transportation Safety Board is launching a team to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.
