5 min read
Major Takeaways
- The tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked riverboat American Heritage on the Mississippi River in New Orleans at about 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
- Port officials say 129 people were on board the cruise boat, passengers along with the crew, as it let travelers off at the end of a cruise.
- Rescue crews pulled at least 14 people from the river, and more than a dozen people were taken to area hospitals. No deaths have been reported.
- Guests and crew were evacuated, and passengers were taken inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for triage.
- Search and rescue work is still underway, and the Coast Guard has closed the river to all traffic between mile markers 93 and 96.
A calm Friday afternoon on the New Orleans riverfront turned into a full scale rescue scene when a tanker struck a docked riverboat carrying passengers on the Mississippi River. Crews pulled at least 14 people from the water, and more than a dozen people were taken to area hospitals as the rescue stretched into the afternoon.
The American Heritage, a riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines, was tied to the dock at the Port of New Orleans when the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck it at about 12:30 p.m. Central time.
The impact rolled the white riverboat onto its side against the seawall. Its lower decks slid beneath the surface as the boat took on water in front of a stunned lunch hour crowd.
What Happened at the Dock
The American Heritage had arrived at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place about two hours before the collision, ending a cruise on the Lower Mississippi River.
Passengers were still getting off the boat when the tanker came in and struck it. Port of New Orleans spokeswoman Kimberly Curth said 129 people were on board the cruise boat when the collision took place, and officials said that number covered the passengers in addition to the crew members working the vessel.
Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said at least 14 people were pulled from the river as the riverboat tipped over. Rescue boats rushed in as passengers in life jackets clung to railings and waited in the water beside the listing boat. Acadian Ambulance said it had 15 units and 2 sprint trucks on scene and had transported 8 patients in the early going.
Photos and video from the riverfront show the riverboat leaning at a hard angle, pinned near the dock, with the bow of the dark green tanker sitting just off its stern.
Crews Rushed In From Every Direction
The United States Coast Guard, Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department and emergency medical crews all converged on the riverfront.
Passengers who made it off the boat were moved inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, where crews set up triage and worked to account for everyone who had been on board. Mayor Helena Moreno said multiple people had been rescued and that search and rescue operations remained ongoing, and officials have not yet confirmed that everyone who was on board is accounted for.
American Cruise Lines addressed the crash in a statement: “American Cruise Lines can confirm that our riverboat, American Heritage was involved in a collision while it was docked in New Orleans. We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved.”
Port NOLA struck the same note of caution in its own statement: “Our immediate priority is the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders. This remains an active and evolving incident. The number of injuries and the cause of the allision have not yet been confirmed.”
The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96, a three mile stretch around the crash site, while crews assessed the scene and kept the rescue operation moving. Governor Jeff Landry said he was in contact with local officials and on his way to New Orleans, and Nungesser said hotel rooms were being secured for passengers left stranded by the crash.
A Riverfront That Belongs to This City
New Orleans is a majority Black city, and its riverfront is working ground as much as it is a postcard. Longshoremen, deckhands, hospitality workers and street musicians keep this stretch of the Mississippi moving every single day.
On Friday, that riverfront filled with residents who stopped along the Riverwalk to watch and pray as rescue boats worked the water beside a boat many of them have watched sail past the city for years.
The American Heritage is a paddlewheeler built to carry 150 passengers. It sails cruises on the Lower Mississippi River out of New Orleans that last seven nights.
What We Still Do Not Know
More than a dozen people were taken to area hospitals, but officials have not released a full accounting of the injured or described their conditions. No deaths had been reported as of Friday afternoon.
The cause of the collision remains unknown. Investigators will have to answer how a tanker struck a boat that was tied to the dock in the middle of the day.
Officials also have not yet confirmed that every passenger and crew member has been accounted for, and search and rescue work was still underway late in the afternoon. The river closure between mile markers 93 and 96 has no announced end time.
This is a developing story, and Urban City Podcast will update this report as officials confirm more. Follow our continuing coverage in the News section and on the Urban City Podcast home page.
