A tanker collided with a river cruise ship docked on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, prompting an emergency effort to rescue people from the water, according to officials.
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker collided with American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage at about ۱۲.۳۰pm, said Kimberly Curth, the Port of New Orleans press secretary, in a statement.
The American Heritage had about ۱۲۹ passengers – in addition to crew members – onboard when it was hit, according to Curth. About two hours before that, the American Heritage had docked at the port to begin passenger disembarkation.
The American Heritage, a ۳۰۰ft paddle-wheel ship, was built in ۲۰۱۵ and previously sailed as the Queen of the Mississippi. It has more than ۸۰ staterooms and operates cruises on the Mississippi River, including ones which depart from New Orleans.
A statement from the office of the New Orleans mayor, Helena Moreno, on Friday afternoon said that “multiple individuals have been rescued”.
An emergency response source said that there were efforts under way – including by New Orleans firefighters – to rescue multiple people from the water.
“Public safety agencies are coordinating response efforts, with the immediate priority being the safety and rescue of those involved,” the statement from Moreno’s office said.
Officials did not immediately provide details about the circumstances of the crash. The emergency response source said it was possible the tanker had lost power before striking the American Heritage, but that had not been confirmed.
A video from local NBC News affiliate WDSU showed crew members of a tugboat working to pull people in lifejackets or holding on to flotation rings out of the river.
Video from local Fox affiliate WVUE showed the American Heritage slowly rolling on to its side with the Atlantic Asphalt nearby. One image on social media showed people climbing on the side of the cruise boat after it was struck, with chairs and tables strewn about.
People who had gotten off the American Heritage after it was struck were being brought inside the New Orleans port’s administration building.
Beside New Orleans firefighters and port and city police, the US Coast Guard and local emergency medical services personnel were at the scene conducting rescue and response operations, Curth’s statement said.
A statement from the US Coast Guard said the river “is closed to all vessel traffic between mile markers ۹۳ and ۹۶”, encompassing the area where Friday’s crash occurred. That is so to assist responders as they “assess the situation and conduct response operations”, the statement said.
A statement from American Cruise Lines on Friday said “guests and crew were evacuated” from the American Heritage but did not provide numbers. “We are deeply concerned for everyone involved,” the cruise operator’s statement added.
Officials said they would be holding a news conference at ۳pm CT to provide more updates. Louisiana’s governor, Jeff Landry, on Friday afternoon said he was headed to New Orleans.
