A tanker has struck a river cruise boat along the Mississippi river. As reported by CBS News, the incident happened near the Port of New Orleans on Friday.
Video from the scene shows the large tanker smashing into the cruise boat, identified as an American Heritage passenger boat, whilst it was docked. Later reports by WWL TV indicate that the cruise boat was disembarking at the time of the crash.
The tanker was identified as having been the Atlantic Asphalt. Per Vessel Finder, the ship sails the flag of the Marshall Islands, and also has a length of 160 metres.
The boat, which was described as having been a paddlewheel boat, was later seen mostly submerged. It was reported that there were around 129 people on the boat before the crash - although some may have already disembarked prior to the incident.
People were seen in life jackets around the wreckage of the boat - other boats had reportedly come to the rescue. All in all, it is estimated that around a dozen were rescued by the nearby boats.
Videos by Wide Open Country
The Louisiana Governor Released a Statement About the Boat Collision
Jeff Landry, the Governor of Louisiana, released a statement regarding the boat collision. "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.
Per officials, multiple agencies, including the New Orleans Fire Department and Police Department, and also the coast guard, are present. The Coast Guard confirmed they have closed parts of the Mississippi as a result of the incident.
As reported by 6ABC Action News, a spokesperson for the city also said, "Multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing."
American Cruise Lines also released a statement about the incident. "We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved."
This is a truly worrying situation and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this collision. We will keep you updated as more information is released.
