A tanker struck a docked passenger riverboat on the Mississippi River on Friday, triggering a multiagency rescue operation and closing a stretch of the river to vessel traffic.
The 25-foot bitumen tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck American Cruise Lines’ paddlewheel riverboat American Heritage at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time near 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, according to port officials. About 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, were aboard the riverboat, which had docked roughly two hours earlier to begin disembarkation, local media reported.
Video from WDSU showed the larger tanker striking the stationary riverboat, tipping it onto its side and partially submerging it. Footage showed people wearing life jackets in the water near the collision site.
“Multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing,” a New Orleans city spokesperson said. Authorities had not confirmed the number of injuries or the cause of the collision in the initial reports.
CBS News reported at least 14 people were rescued from the water.
The 2017-built tanker is owned by Nave Shipping SA of Liberia and registered in the Marshall Islands.
American Cruise Lines said its passengers and crew had been evacuated and that it was working with emergency authorities. It was not immediately clear whether everyone aboard had been accounted for, NBC News reported.
“We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities,” the company said. “Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved.”
Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans fire and police departments, the Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel responded. Officials established a triage area inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building.
The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while responders assessed the situation and conducted emergency operations. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who has been serving as a special envoy to Greenland, said he was heading to New Orleans and was in contact with local officials and law enforcement.
“Our immediate priority is the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders,” the Port of New Orleans said in a statement. “This remains an active and evolving incident.”
Why it matters: The collision created an immediate threat to passengers and crew aboard a docked vessel while also halting vessel movements along one of the busiest stretches of the Mississippi River.
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