On midday Friday, Nov. 13, the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the river cruise ship American Heritage as it was docked at the Port of New Orleans on the Mississippi River in Louisiana, unloading passengers. The cruise ship tipped onto its side and partly sank. Thirty-two people were taken to hospitals, but none is in critical condition. The mayor said everyone aboard both vessels has been accounted for. The ship had just returned from a Mississippi River itinerary round-trip from New Orleans.
On midday Friday, Nov. 13, a tanker struck a river cruise ship tied up at a dock on the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans in Louisiana. The cruise ship, which was unloading passengers, tipped onto its side and partly sank. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said 32 cruise passengers were taken to hospitals but none is in critical condition, and everyone aboard both vessels has been accounted for. There were no deaths.
The ship is a 7-night river cruise vessel that departs from New Orleans and travels the lower Mississippi River. It had finished its voyage that morning and returned to New Orleans, its departure point, and was unloading passengers when it was hit. The vessel that struck it was not a cargo ship but a tanker that carries asphalt and similar products.
At a Glance
Two Hours After Disembarkation Began, the Ship Tipped Onto Its Side
According to the Port of New Orleans, the American Heritage pulled up to the dock in front of the port administration building about two hours before the accident and began unloading passengers. Around 12:30 p.m., the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the ship. Video from the scene shows the much larger tanker approaching and hitting the paddlewheel cruise ship alongside the dock. The cruise ship's mooring lines snapped, it began to list and eventually rolled onto its side, and its lower decks flooded.
Some passengers fell into the river wearing life jackets. Local broadcaster WDSU reported that 12 people were in the water early in the rescue. Port of New Orleans police, the fire department, the police department, the U.S. Coast Guard and paramedics responded and pulled people from the water, and passengers were taken to the port administration building to be checked. Immediately after the accident, reports differed on the number aboard, citing 129 and 150, and some said people were unaccounted for, but the mayor later said everyone had been accounted for.
"The Tanker Lost Control"
Mayor Moreno said the tanker "lost control and collided with the cruise ship." Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said the tanker appears to have suffered "some kind of loss of steering," but said the exact reason is not yet known. The tanker was being guided at the time by a pilot who navigates the Mississippi River channel. The Coast Guard closed vessel traffic on the Mississippi between Mile 93 and Mile 96 to handle the incident.
In a statement, American Cruise Lines said, "We are working closely with the Coast Guard and local authorities," adding, "Our passengers and crew have been evacuated, and our thoughts are with everyone involved." Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he is heading to New Orleans.
About the Ship
The American Heritage is a paddlewheel vessel built in 2015 that carries about 150 passengers. It is mainly used for 7-night voyages that depart New Orleans and travel the lower Mississippi River. Its operator, American Cruise Lines, is the largest river and small-ship cruise company in the U.S., operating more than 25 vessels in the country alone.
The company also has ties to New York. American Cruise Lines operates Hudson River cruises departing from Pier 81 in Manhattan and traveling up the river to West Point, Hyde Park, Kingston, Albany and other stops. These itineraries run mainly in summer and during the fall foliage season, and are unrelated to this accident. Those who have booked or are considering a Hudson River cruise should check directly with the operator about any schedule changes.
The cause of the accident and the exact number of injuries are expected to be determined by a Coast Guard investigation.