Tanker collides with cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans

A tanker collided with an overnight cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, prompting a large emergency response, according to officials.

The boat that was struck was American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage, a New Orleans port official told local news outlet WVUE. The ship had about 129 passengers – in addition to crew members – aboard at the time it was struck by the Atlantic Asphalt tanker, the outlet reported, citing the spokesperson.

An emergency response source said that there were efforts underway to rescue people from the water. That source said it was possible the tanker had lost power before striking the American Heritage.

Images on social media showed the American Heritage on its side. It was docked on the Mississippi River outside the port of New Orleans’s administrative building when it was hit.

The collision occurred at around 12:30pm local time on Friday, according to The Mirror. The Mirror also reported that there were almost 150 passengers on board.

Why it matters

• The American Heritage was docked on the Mississippi River outside the port of New Orleans’s administrative building when it was hit.
• About 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, were aboard the ship at the time of the collision.
• An emergency response source said it was possible the tanker had lost power before striking the American Heritage.

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Sources

• mirror.co.uk: American Cruise Lines ship capsizes after crash with oil tanker in New Orleans - The Mirror
• theguardian.com: Tanker collides with cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans | New Orleans | The Guardian

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.