A tanker ship collided with a cruise boat docked on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, and rescue efforts were underway at the Port of New Orleans.
Kimberly Curth, a spokesperson for the Port of New Orleans, told USA TODAY that at about 12:30 p.m. local time, the tanker Atlantic Asphalt collided with the American Cruise Lines vessel American Heritage while the cruise boat was docked at the port. The American Heritage had docked approximately two hours before the collision to begin passenger disembarkation.
About 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, were aboard the riverboat at the time of the incident. Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene. Some passengers were being brought inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for triage and assistance.
"Our immediate priority is the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders," the port said in a statement. "This remains an active and evolving incident. The number of injuries and the cause of the collision have not yet been confirmed. Additional updates will be provided as information is confirmed."
The U.S. Coast Guard closed part of the Mississippi River while responders assessed the situation. Tasha Smith, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard Heartland District, told USA TODAY that the collision took place near mile marker 96 on the river. "The river is closed to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while responders assess the situation and conduct response operations," Smith said.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said in a post on social media that his office was aware of the two-vessel collision. "We are in close contact with local officials and law enforcement," the governor said. "I am headed to New Orleans now."
The Port of New Orleans sits along the Mississippi River in downtown New Orleans and serves as an embarkation point for cruise passengers. It is also the state's only international container port. American Cruise Lines is a family-owned company based in Guilford, Connecticut, specializing in river and coastal cruises within the United States, with itineraries on the Mississippi, Columbia and Snake rivers, as well as in Alaska, New England and the Southeast.
