Riverboat Carrying 100+ Passengers Capsizes After Being Struck By Tanker On Mississippi River
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The American Heritage riverboat was carrying nearly 130 passengers when it was struck by a tanker.
A docked riverboat capsized in the Mississippi River on Friday afternoon (Nov. 13) after a large tanker struck its side in New Orleans, triggering a major search and rescue effort.
According to the Port of New Orleans, the tanker hit American Cruise Lines’ paddlewheel riverboat American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. local time. The riverboat had been docked outside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for roughly two hours so passengers could begin disembarking. About 129 passengers, plus crew members, were on board.
Footage captured the moment the collision occurred.
Video obtained by CNN shows the tanker striking the riverboat, tipping it onto its side and leaving it partially submerged. Footage posted by NBC News showed people in life jackets in the water near the crash site, while others stood near the railing. Nearby boats reported pulling more than a dozen people from the water, according to CBS News.
Another video shared by The Times-Picayune on Instagram shows passengers entering the water and swimming to safety as the riverboat capsizes.
What is the status of the passengers and crew?
Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, and emergency medical crews responded to the scene. Passengers were brought ashore and taken inside the port’s administration building for observation.
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told WWL around 3:50 p.m. that initial estimates showed 85 people had been rescued and treated inside the port building, adding that, unofficially, everyone on board was believed to be accounted for.
During an evening press conference, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno confirmed that all passengers had been accounted for. She said 32 people had been taken to area hospitals, and none of their injuries were considered critical.
In a statement, American Cruise Lines confirmed its riverboat was involved in a collision while docked and said it was working closely with the Coast Guard and local authorities. “Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved,” the company said.
The Coast Guard closed a three-mile stretch of the Mississippi to vessel traffic near mile marker 96 while responders worked the scene.
The American Heritage is a five-story paddlewheel riverboat that can carry up to 150 passengers. The tanker, named the Atlantic Asphalt, was reportedly carrying crude or petroleum products. Public records show it is based in the Marshall Islands and owned by Chinese and Liberian companies.
What caused the tanker to strike the docked riverboat has not been determined.
This is a developing story.
