A tanker struck a docked paddlewheel riverboat on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, causing the cruise vessel to roll over and capsize at the dock. Officials said everyone on board was accounted for, though more than 30 people were taken to hospitals with injuries described as non-critical.
The collision happened at about 12:30 p.m. local time near the Port of New Orleans, just below the Crescent City Connection bridge, according to the port. The Marshall Islands-flagged asphalt tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit the American Heritage, an 81-meter riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines, roughly two hours after the riverboat had tied up so passengers could go ashore.
The story in 7 points
- The tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked riverboat American Heritage in New Orleans around 12:30 p.m. Friday.
- The paddlewheeler took on water, rolled over and capsized alongside the dock.
- The port said about 129 passengers plus crew were aboard; city officials put the total at nearly 200.
- Everyone was accounted for, and more than 30 people were hospitalized with non-critical injuries.
- The Coast Guard said the tanker appears to have suffered some kind of loss of steering.
- The river was closed to traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 during the response.
- The NTSB is sending a team, expected to arrive Saturday, to join the Coast Guard investigation.
The American Heritage had arrived from Natchez, Mississippi, earlier in the day. Built in 2015 as the Queen of the Mississippi, the U.S.-flagged vessel was later renamed and carries up to about 150 guests on river cruises. The 160-meter Atlantic Asphalt had sailed from Paulsboro, New Jersey, in late October and reached New Orleans on Nov. 11, according to ship-tracking data cited by the maritime outlet gCaptain.
New Orleans officials said 30 passengers and two officers ended up in the water and were among those taken to hospitals. Fire, police, port and Coast Guard crews worked together on the rescue, and officials later said no one remained unaccounted for. Mayor Helena Moreno called the outcome a “miracle on the Mississippi,” and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry promised a full look at what went wrong.
Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said investigators believe the tanker lost steering but do not yet know why. American Cruise Lines said it was grateful to first responders and its crew, and that guests were being settled into hotels. No pollution or fuel spill had been reported in the initial accounts.
Why it matters
The lower Mississippi is one of the busiest commercial waterways in the country, with large ocean-going ships passing close to docks used by cruise and tour vessels. A loss of steering on a big tanker in that setting leaves crews very little time to react, and state leaders have said they want clear answers about what happened. The closure of a stretch of river near the city also affects barge and cargo traffic that moves goods through the port.
Next, NTSB and Coast Guard investigators are expected to examine the tanker’s steering and propulsion systems, review tracking data and interview crew members. The Coast Guard is also assessing when the closed section of river can reopen and how to deal with the capsized riverboat.