About 130 rescued after tanker hits cruise boat in New Orleans
About 130 people were rescued after a tanker struck a New Orleans river cruise boat, leaving it on its side in the Mississippi. Thirty-two were taken to hospital with non-critical injuries; the cause of the collision is under investigation.
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Some 130 people were rescued after a tanker struck the American Heritage river cruise boat in New Orleans on Friday, leaving it on its side in the Mississippi River. Thirty-two people were taken to hospital with non-critical injuries, and officials said nobody was unaccounted for.
The collision involved the tanker Atlantic Asphalt. The American Heritage had about 129 passengers aboard, in addition to crew, according to the Port of New Orleans. The boat is operated by American Cruise Lines.
US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said there appeared to have been “some type of a loss of steering”. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Passengers began leaving the boat as it listed and took on water, Mayor Helena Moreno said. Tugboat operators, police and other rescuers helped people escape; officials closed the Mississippi River during the search effort.
Moreno praised first responders, saying they had “literally jumped right in to help”. She said there were “zero people unaccounted for”, calling the outcome “a miracle on the Mississippi”.
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