More than a dozen people were taken to hospitals on Friday following a collision between an Atlantic Asphalt tanker and an American Cruise Lines vessel in New Orleans. The cruise ship, carrying 129 passengers and crew, was knocked onto its side in the Mississippi River.
Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser stated that around 3:50 p.m. EST, initial reports indicated that 85 people had been rescued and treated at the Port of New Orleans, where the cruise ship was docked. Although unconfirmed, authorities believe everyone on board, potentially as many as 130 people, has been accounted for.
“The latest information suggests there has been no loss of life,” Nungesser relayed, adding that he was working to secure 85 hotel rooms for affected passengers.
The crash occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time. City officials planned to address the media at 4:30 p.m. EST. As a precaution, the Regional Transit Authority suspended ferry services across the Mississippi River following the incident.
The cruise ship had arrived at the dock two hours earlier and was preparing to disembark passengers when the tanker struck. Video footage showed the larger tanker colliding with the cruise ship while it was still docked. As the vessel started to list, passengers could be seen in life jackets in the water or clinging to the ship’s railing.
By 2:10 p.m. local time, multiple rescues had been carried out, with passengers brought to the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for assistance.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced he was aware of the incident and was en route to New Orleans by 2 p.m. The collision occurred in a busy area of the riverfront, near the Convention Center, frequented by tourists and surrounded by hotels and restaurants.
This incident could be the most severe accident in that area of the Mississippi River since 1996, when a cargo ship collided with the Riverwalk Marketplace shopping mall, resulting in 66 injuries.
This is a developing story.
