A tanker collided with a docked American river cruise ship on the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans around 12:30 p.m. Friday. The Atlantic Asphalt struck American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage while the cruise vessel sat outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place near the Crescent City Connection. The American Heritage had been docked for roughly two hours and was in the process of disembarking passengers.
Port of New Orleans officials reported about 129 passengers plus crew were aboard the river cruiser at the moment of impact. The vessel began taking on water. Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, NOPD, the U.S. Coast Guard, and emergency medical teams moved in immediately. Passengers are being brought into the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for triage and assistance.
Port NOLA issued a direct statement: “Our immediate priority is the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders. This remains an active and evolving incident. The number of injuries and the cause of the allision have not yet been confirmed. Additional updates will be provided as information is confirmed.”
Governor Jeff Landry confirmed he is aware of the situation and was heading to New Orleans as of early afternoon. Video from the riverbank shows the green-hulled Atlantic Asphalt pressed against the damaged, listing multi-deck American Heritage under clear skies, with tugboats and emergency assets on scene.
This is a major commercial waterway that already sees heavy tanker, cargo, and barge traffic day and night. A docked American passenger vessel should not be absorbing the full force of a moving tanker. Questions about the tanker’s control, pilotage, speed, and communication will have to be answered once the immediate rescue work is done. First responders are doing the hard, dangerous work right now. Pray for every passenger, every crew member, and every first responder still on the water.
I think those are built right here in Salisbury!
It is AND it’s company owned.