Tanker hits cruise ship carrying 129 passengers near Port of New Orleans

Twelve nine passengers were aboard the American Heritage when a tanker struck the vessel in the Mississippi River on Friday afternoon. The collision occurred near the Port of New Orleans, where rescue crews immediately moved to pull survivors from the water.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the cruise ship around 12:30 p.m. The vessel was docked outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place. Video from the scene showed rescuers in boats helping passengers wearing life jackets. Luggage and debris floated in the river nearby.

Mayor Helena Moreno’s office confirmed that multiple individuals have been rescued. Survivors were transported to a building adjacent to the dock. The U.S. Coast Guard closed the river to all other vessels while operations continued.

The American Heritage is a five-story boat built in 2015. It is operated by American Cruise Lines and holds up to 150 passengers. The vessel was finishing an eight-day itinerary that included stops in Louisiana and Mississippi. Crew members were also on board at the time of the impact.

Governor Jeff Landry said he was aware of the accident and was traveling to New Orleans. The Coast Guard expressed concern for the passengers, crew, and families affected. Authorities had not released specific numbers on injuries or deaths as of Friday evening.