Tanker strikes cruise ship in Mississippi River

A 160-meter tanker named the Atlantic Asphalt collided with the passenger vessel American Heritage on Friday at approximately 12:30 p.m. in the Mississippi River near New Orleans. The impact caused the American Heritage to capsize, triggering a large-scale emergency response involving multiple agencies.

The American Heritage was operated by American Cruise Lines and had been docked for about two hours prior to the crash. Passengers were in the process of disembarking when the Atlantic Asphalt struck the ship. At the time of the collision, 129 passengers and crew members were aboard the vessel.

The Atlantic Asphalt is a tanker registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands. It transports asphalt and bitumen. The American Heritage was moored in the river channel when the collision occurred.

New Orleans Port Police, firefighters, local police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and emergency medical personnel are on the scene. Authorities are conducting rescue and response operations. Passengers are being moved to the New Orleans Port administration building for medical evaluation and assistance.

The Port of New Orleans stated in a written statement that the safety of all passengers, crew, and emergency responders is the immediate priority. The agency described the incident as active and ongoing. No confirmed number of injuries or the cause of the collision had been released as of the statement.

American Cruise Lines confirmed the incident in a separate statement. The company said it is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. The line noted that passengers and crew were evacuated and expressed concern for everyone involved.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry posted on X that he is aware of the incident and is in contact with local officials and law enforcement. He added that he was traveling to New Orleans at the time of the post.