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Tanker Hits River Cruise Boat in New Orleans, Rescues Underway
· Confirmed
In Short: A tanker collided with a cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, prompting a search and rescue operation.
LIVE UPDATES: Tanker collides with cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans. WDSU News
A tanker collided with the American Heritage, a river cruise boat operated by American Cruise Lines, on Friday in New Orleans, according to Business Insider. The incident occurred at mile marker 96 on the Mississippi River, the Coast Guard said.
The American Heritage, which was docked near the French Quarter, was struck by the Atlantic Asphalt tanker, a 520-foot vessel sailing under a flag for the Marshall Islands, as reported by Houston Public Media and MS NOW.
Photos and videos shared online captured the moment the tanker hit the cruise boat, causing it to partially capsize into the Mississippi River. The incident left 129 passengers and crew members in the water, as reported by Business Insider and the New York Times.
Rescue efforts were immediately launched by local agencies, including the Coast Guard, New Orleans Emergency Medical Services, and other nearby vessels. Mayor Helena Moreno called it “a miracle on the Mississippi,” as all 180 people on board survived the incident.
According to the New Orleans mayor’s communications team, several people were rescued by about 2:10 p.m., with dozens transported to area hospitals. Mayor Moreno stated that 32 people were taken to the hospital, but none had critical injuries.
Footage showed people in life jackets in the river and others standing near the railing as the American Heritage listed further into the water. Tugboat operators, nearby workers, police, and several other rescuers rushed to help, as reported by WXXV News 25.
The ferry service across the river was suspended after the collision, according to the emergency preparedness campaign for New Orleans.
Crews are continuing to investigate how the incident happened and are working to salvage the ship from the river, as reported by Click2Houston.
The incident highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and quick response in such situations, as all passengers and crew members were rescued without any critical injuries.
What's confirmed
- American Cruise Lines said its ship, a riverboat called American Heritage, was docked when it was struck by the tanker Atlantic Asphalt.
- Norwood with New Orleans Emergency Medical Services said all agencies are responding to rescue efforts.
- Video from the scene showed the much larger Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the paddlewheel cruise boat while it appeared to be docked.
- People were seen in the river in life jackets or standing near the railing as the other side of the American Heritage listed further into the water.
- Rescues were underway on the Mississippi River, officials say.
- NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A tanker struck a New Orleans river cruise with 129 passengers on board on Friday, partially submerging the boat.
- New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said 32 people were taken to the hospital, but none of them had critical injuries.
- The 520-foot (160-meter) long vessel had a final destination in New Orleans, according to MarineTraffic, and was sailing under a flag for the Marshall Islands.
- More than a dozen people in lifejackets were being dragged from the 66-degree Fahrenheit (19-degree Celsius) river onto nearby ships.
- NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A tanker in New Orleans that apparently lost its steering slammed into a docked river cruise boat with 180 people aboard Friday, the mayor said.
- All aboard survived after the crash prompted a massive rescue operation for passengers and crew who plunged into the Mississippi River as the ship took on water and began to topple over.
- At least 180 passengers and crew members were rescued Friday after an out-of-control tanker hit and sank a paddleboat on the Mississippi River, the mayor of New Orleans said.
What's still developing
- Authorities did not immediately release whether there were injuries or deaths.
- Devon Flanagan was at his job nearby at the Port of New Orleans when workers began rushing down the dock.
- Footage shows the paddlewheel cruise boat capsizing following the impact.
Sources
- Business Insiderlink
- Houston Public Medialink
- Independentlink
- MS NOWlink
- NBC Newslink
- News-Press NOWlink
- Nypostlink
- PBSlink
- RiverBender.comlink
- WSLSlink
- WV Newslink
- WXXV News 25link
- Actionnewsjaxlink
- DWlink
- Click2Houstonlink
- The New York Timeslink
- WDSU News — video link
- WVUE FOX 8 New Orleans — video link
- KMPH FOX26 NEWS — video link
- iCkEdMeL — video link
- WLUK-TV FOX 11 — video link
- CBS Detroit — video link