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Archive photo · 12 April 2015Atlantic Asphalt Tanker Strikes American Heritage Paddleboat Near Port of New Orleans, Rescues Underway
“it was initially unclear whether there were any fatalities and how many people were injured or missing.”
“Everyone aboard both vessels has been accounted for, officials said, and there were no fatalities reported.”
Photo: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped for layout
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Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Heritage paddleboat on the Mississippi River near New Orleans. The paddleboat tipped and partially submerged, triggering a major rescue operation with at least 180 rescued.
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Tanker hits docked boat
A tanker struck the American Heritage river cruise paddleboat on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans, partially submerging the vessel and prompting a major rescue operation.
The Port of New Orleans said the Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the cruise boat at about 12:30 p.m. local time on Friday while the American Heritage was docked and beginning to let passengers off after docking about two hours earlier.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said everyone aboard both vessels was accounted for and described the rescue as a “miracle on the Mississippi.”
The Coast Guard closed the river to vessel traffic, and the Coast Guard commander of the sector of New Orleans, Capt. Melanie Burnham, said she was working to reopen the river after the collision.
A witness, Jamie Holford, told CBS News that “It looked like something off the Titanic,” as the American Heritage rolled over and flipped after the impact.
Rescues, injuries, and triage
New Orleans Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll said two of her officers were hospitalized during the rescue operation, and she said they were in good condition.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said 32 passengers from the cruise ship were taken to area hospital for treatment, and she said none had critical injuries.
Port NOLA said emergency responders including Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted rescue and response operations, while private vessels responded as volunteers.
The city spokesperson said “Multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing,” as a triage area was set up inside the port’s administration building.
The American Cruise Lines operator said guests and crew had been evacuated and that it was “deeply concerned for everyone involved,” while the river remained closed to vessel traffic.
Investigation and next steps
The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a “Go Team” to the scene Saturday to begin an investigation into the cause of the collision.
WWNO reported that New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said no passengers were unaccounted for and that 32 were taken to local hospitals, with none having critical injuries.
WWNO said Moreno described “some sort of loss of steering,” and it said investigators were working to determine what happened.
Unfiltered with Kiran reported that Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said, “The boat lost power and took a hard right as it came under the bridge, or the steering went out,” while also calling it unofficial and attributing it to an eyewitness.
WWNO said the Coast Guard shut the river to all vessel traffic for a roughly three-mile stretch while responders worked, and it said the Coast Guard’s focus was shifting to reopening the river.