New Orleans tanker crashes into riverboat carrying 129 passengers; all accounted for
NEW ORLEANS - Everyone aboard a New Orleans riverboat carrying about 129 passengers and additional crew members was accounted for after a tanker struck the docked vessel Friday, causing it to capsize in the Mississippi River, authorities said.
What we know:
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Heritage around 12:30 p.m. on the Mississippi River outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, according to the Port of New Orleans.
Cruise ship capsizes after collision
Video filmed by Randy Christie shows what happened in the moments after the Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage in New Orleans.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said 32 people were taken to hospitals, none with critical injuries, and all people on board were accounted for. Moreno called it "a miracle."
"We have zero people unaccounted for, which is a miracle," Moreno told reporters.
"Our New Orleans firefighters jumped right into action with ladders over the dock to try to get people up," Moreno later added.
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage around 12:30 p.m. on the Mississippi River, the Port of New Orleans. (Courtesy WVUE)
The American Heritage had docked about two hours before the collision to begin letting passengers off, according to port officials. Emergency teams were conducting rescue and response operations, and passengers were being brought inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building.
The cruise ship was built in 2015 and operated by American Cruise Lines. It is five stories and can hold up to 150 passengers.
The American Heritage was finishing an eight-day cruise to several Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The tanker involved in the crash specializes in carrying large quantities of asphalt and bitumen, a semi-solid substance that is often used for road construction and roofing, according to the live shipping tracker MarineTraffic.
Ships carrying asphalt and bitumen are often heated well above 250 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the asphalt from solidifying on the ship, according to the maritime periodical Marine Insights. It is not immediately clear whether the ship was carrying any materials when the crash occurred.
The vessel is 520 feet long and had a final destination in New Orleans, according to MarineTraffic. It was sailing under a flag for the Marshall Islands.
What they're saying:
American Cruise Lines confirmed the collision and said guests and crew were evacuated.
"We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities," the company said in a statement to FOX Television Stations. "Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved."
The U.S. Coast Guard said it was responding alongside local agencies to the collision near mile marker 96 on the Mississippi River. The river is closed to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while crews assessed the situation and conducted response operations, according to Coast Guard Lt. Krystal Wolfe.
What we don't know:
It's unclear what caused the crash.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Port of New Orleans, Mayor Helena Moreno, The Associated Press and Gov. Jeff Landry. Additional information came from an American Cruise Lines statement confirming the collision, evacuations and coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. This story was reported from Los Angeles.