A significant emergency response is currently underway on the Mississippi River in New Orleans following a collision between a tanker and an overnight cruise ship on Friday afternoon. The vessel involved, identified as the American Heritage by American Cruise Lines, was struck while docked outside the administrative building of the Port of New Orleans.
According to a spokesperson for the port, the American Heritage was carrying approximately 129 passengers, in addition to its crew members, at the time of the collision. The ship was hit by the Atlantic Asphalt tanker. Images shared on social media following the incident depicted the American Heritage listing on its side.
Emergency teams are actively working to rescue individuals from the water. While the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, a source involved in the emergency response indicated that it is possible the Atlantic Asphalt tanker lost power prior to striking the cruise ship.
