NEW ORLEANS — Thirty-two people were taken to hospitals after the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked American Heritage river cruise ship on the Mississippi River on Friday, November 13. Mayor Helena Moreno said all passengers and crew were accounted for and none of those hospitalized had critical injuries, according to The Associated Press.
The collision happened around 12:30 p.m. outside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building. Port officials said the American Cruise Lines vessel had docked about two hours earlier for passengers to disembark. Approximately 129 passengers, plus crew members, were aboard, according to WVUE reporting carried by FOX34.
Rescuers pulled people from the river
The American Heritage took on water and rolled onto its side as rescuers worked to evacuate it. Harbor police entered the river to reach people, while firefighters used ladders from the dock. Nearby vessels also helped, WBRZ reported.
Port police, New Orleans police and firefighters, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical crews responded. Passengers were brought into the port administration building for assistance. American Cruise Lines said its guests and crew had been evacuated and that it was coordinating with authorities, according to WBRZ.
Cause remains under investigation
Investigators were examining a possible steering failure, but that explanation had not been confirmed, The Guardian reported.
The Coast Guard said it had closed the affected waterway during the emergency response and was evaluating reopening and salvage operations, according to WBRZ. The reporting reviewed for this article did not establish a reopening time or a final cause of the collision.
This account reflects information reported Friday evening, November 13. Early estimates of the number aboard varied; the passenger count above does not include crew.