Tanker strikes docked cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans

A tanker struck a docked river cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, leaving the passenger vessel on its side and sending people into the water as rescue crews responded near the French Quarter.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker collided with American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m., Kimberly Curth, the Port of New Orleans press secretary, said in a statement reported by The Guardian. The cruise ship had docked about two hours earlier to begin disembarking passengers. About 129 passengers were aboard, along with crew members, Curth said.

American Cruise Lines said the American Heritage was docked when it was struck, according to NBC News. “We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved.”

Images and video showed the cruise ship listing into the river and people wearing life jackets in the water. Footage from local NBC affiliate WDSU showed tugboat crew members pulling people in life jackets or holding flotation rings out of the river, The Guardian reported. Other images showed people climbing on the side of the American Heritage, with chairs and tables strewn about.

New Orleans firefighters, port and city police, the Coast Guard and local emergency medical personnel were at the scene conducting rescue and response operations, according to Curth’s statement. People who had gotten off the cruise ship after the collision were being brought into the port’s administration building, The Guardian reported. NBC News said it was not immediately clear whether all passengers and crew had been accounted for.

The Coast Guard closed the river to vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96, a stretch that includes the crash site. The closure would assist responders as they “assess the situation and conduct response operations,” the Coast Guard said in a statement quoted by The Guardian.

Investigators were working to determine what caused the collision, NBC News reported. An emergency response source told The Guardian it was possible the tanker had lost power before hitting the cruise ship. That possibility had not been established as the cause.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was heading to New Orleans. “We are aware of the incident on the Mississippi and we are in close contact with local officials and law enforcement. I am headed to New Orleans now,” he said.