New Orleans: A river tanker collided with a docked cruise boat in New Orleans on Friday, causing the passenger vessel to capsize and triggering a major rescue operation. All around 180 people aboard were accounted for, while 32 were taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered critical.
The tanker, identified as Atlantic Asphalt, struck the American Heritage at the Port of New Orleans. The collision sent passengers and crew into the Mississippi River as the cruise boat began taking on water and tilting to one side.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said no one was missing following the rescue operation. She described the outcome as a miracle, given the scale of the accident.
Rescue efforts involved tugboat operators, dock workers, police personnel and other emergency responders. Several people were pulled from the river, including at least two police officers who entered the water to assist.
The cruise vessel began listing within minutes of the collision and eventually overturned while emergency teams were still evacuating those on board.
The US Coast Guard said the tanker appeared to have suffered a possible steering failure. The exact cause of the collision, however, has not been established. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate the incident.
Passengers who escaped without serious injuries were taken to a nearby auditorium, where cruise officials conducted a roll call to confirm that everyone was accounted for. Many had lost personal belongings, including identification documents and car keys, during the evacuation.
Authorities and cruise officials also arranged assistance with accommodation, transport and communication with family members for those affected.
The American Heritage, operated by American Cruise Lines, was completing an eight-day journey along the Mississippi River when the collision occurred. Built in 2015, the five-deck vessel can accommodate up to 150 passengers.
Maritime law expert Martin Davies of Tulane University said the available footage suggested a serious failure involving the tanker’s systems. He cautioned that the cause would need to be established through an investigation.
The tanker is owned by Nave Shipping SA, a Liberia-registered company identified as a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, according to shipping records. The company had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
(With inputs from media reports)