Tanker Strikes Docked Riverboat With About 129 Passengers at Port of New Orleans; Rescuers Pull People From the Mississippi

A tanker struck an American Cruise Lines riverboat docked at the Port of New Orleans on Friday afternoon, partially submerging the passenger vessel and setting off a large rescue effort on the Mississippi River ^[2].

According to a news release from the Port of New Orleans, the riverboat American Heritage was tied up at the port when the tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit it ^[1]. The collision happened at about 12:30 p.m. local time outside the port's administration building at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, where the riverboat had docked roughly two hours earlier so passengers could begin going ashore ^[4].

People in the water

Officials estimated that about 129 passengers were aboard, along with crew ^[4]. Other reports put the total number of people on the boat at more than 130 ^[6]. Video shared on social media appeared to show the riverboat tipping onto one side and quickly taking on water, and WDSU reported that at one point a dozen people were in the river as rescue crews worked to reach them ^[3].

By about 2:10 p.m., the New Orleans mayor's communications team said multiple people had been pulled to safety, WDSU reported ^[3]. Passengers brought ashore were taken to the port's administration building to be checked by medical crews ^[4].

The number of injuries had not been confirmed Friday afternoon, and officials had not said what caused the tanker to strike the docked boat ^[2]. Early reports did not make clear whether everyone aboard had been accounted for ^[4].

Who is responding

The U.S. Coast Guard, the New Orleans Fire and Police Departments, Port NOLA Harbor Police and emergency medical crews all responded to the scene ^[4]. The Coast Guard closed the river to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while the rescue continued, Coast Guard Lt. Krystal Wolfe said ^[2]. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was in close contact with local officials and law enforcement and was heading to New Orleans ^[2].

American Cruise Lines said its guests and crew had been evacuated and that the company was working closely with the Coast Guard and local authorities ^[4]. NBC News described the riverboat as carrying more than 100 passengers when the tanker hit ^[5].

What comes next

The Coast Guard's closure of the river between mile markers 93 and 96 will stay in place while the rescue continues ^[2]. The key questions now are how many people were hurt, whether everyone aboard has been accounted for, and why a tanker struck a riverboat that was tied up at the dock. Officials had not answered those questions as of Friday afternoon ^[2]. The answers will shape what comes next for American Cruise Lines, for the tanker's operator and for the Port of New Orleans, which first announced the collision ^[1].

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Liberty Bell Report will keep updating this story as officials release injury figures and more details about how the collision happened. Our prayers are with the passengers, the crew and the first responders working on the river.