Tanker Strikes Docked River Cruise Ship in New Orleans, 32 Taken to Hospital

NEW ORLEANS — A tanker struck a docked river cruise ship carrying 129 passengers on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, sending the vessel listing onto its side and throwing people into the water in a major rescue operation. All of those on board were accounted for, and 32 people were taken to hospital, none with critical injuries, according to city officials. The collision came on the same day a nationwide FAA ground stop halted flights across the United States.

The tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit the American Heritage, a five-deck paddleboat operated by American Cruise Lines, at about 12:30 p.m. local time, the Port of New Orleans said. The riverboat had docked about two hours earlier at the end of an eight-day cruise and was letting passengers off when the tanker, which officials said appeared to have lost control, collided with it. The boat began taking on water, rolled onto its side and was left partially submerged, with more than a dozen people in life jackets pulled from the river, where the water temperature was 19 degrees Celsius. It was the second major American transport accident in under two weeks, after the deadly Florida jet crash that killed all nine people on board.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno told a news conference on Friday evening that every passenger and crew member had been accounted for. The United States Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while responders secured the area, and the National Transportation Safety Board said investigators would be on scene on Saturday. The cause of the collision has not been established, and officials have not confirmed early reports that the tanker lost power or steering before the impact. Follow our World News coverage for updates as the investigation continues.