Around 130 people aboard a cruise ship docked in New Orleans have been rescued after the vessel was struck by a tanker on the Mississippi River.
The ship, the American Heritage, ended up lying on its side in the river after the collision with the cargo vessel Atlantic Asphalt. Thirty-two people from the riverboat were taken to hospital with injuries that were not critical, and officials said no one remained unaccounted for. Officials described the outcome as a “miracle on the Mississippi.”
Cruise ship American Heritage lies on its side
Port of New Orleans Chief Melanie Montroll told a news conference that calls about the collision came in around 13:30 EST (18:30 GMT) on Friday. People began trying to help passengers leave the boat as it took on water. According to the Port of New Orleans, about 129 passengers were aboard, in addition to crew members.
Mayor Helena Moreno said passengers began disembarking as the paddlewheeler, operated by American Cruise Lines, started to list before tipping onto its side. The vessel was finishing an eight-day cruise to Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi. According to its website, the ship can carry up to 150 guests and has a glass-enclosed restaurant, a fitness centre and three guest lounges. It was built in 2015 and has at least four decks.
Rescuers and officials respond to the crash
Tugboat operators, police and other rescuers rushed to help, and officials shut down the Mississippi River to allow the search to continue. Mayor Moreno said all credit for the rescue belonged to first responders who “literally jumped right in to help.” She added: “We have zero people unaccounted for, which truly is a miracle on the Mississippi.”
US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. She said: “There seems to be some type of a loss of steering.”
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the rescue was an “incredible job.” Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said the Coast Guard also supported local rescue operations. Governor Jeff Landry praised the rescue given the number of people aboard who were saved. He said ships have operated safely on the Mississippi for years and pledged to investigate what happened.
Witness recounts sounds and scenes of crash
Jamie Holford, a witness, told a media outlet that he saw the cruise ship hit the dock after the collision. He said it sounded like a war movie, with tons of steel crunching, and that the scene looked like something from the Titanic.
Holford added that he saw passengers and crew members “hollering” and “crying” as they tried to get off the ship while it was sinking.
