Tanker crashes into docked cruise ship in New Orleans, 180 rescued from Mississippi River

A tanker that apparently suffered a steering failure struck a docked river cruise ship carrying around 180 people in New Orleans on Friday, causing the passenger vessel to take on water, tilt and eventually overturn in the Mississippi River. All passengers and crew were accounted for following a large-scale rescue operation, while 32 people were taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered critical, Reuters reported.

The collision occurred as the American Heritage cruise boat was docked in New Orleans. Video footage from the scene showed the much larger Atlantic Asphalt tanker hitting the passenger vessel, causing metal structures and glass to break as the impact sent people into the river.

The cruise ship began leaning to one side within minutes of the collision and overturned while emergency personnel were still evacuating those on board. Tugboat operators, dock workers, police officers and other rescuers rushed to the scene to pull passengers and crew members out of the water.



New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said no one remained missing after the incident, describing the outcome as remarkable given the scale of the accident, Reuters reported. At least 32 people were taken to hospital, although none had life-threatening injuries.

How the New Orleans cruise ship accident unfolded

The collision took place while the American Heritage was docked, with the Atlantic Asphalt tanker travelling upriver on the Mississippi. The impact damaged the cruise vessel, which started taking on water and listing shortly afterwards before turning over.

Passengers and crew members were thrown into the river, where the water temperature was around 66 degrees Fahrenheit (19 degrees Celsius). At least two police officers were also pulled into the water during the rescue effort.

Workers at the nearby Port of New Orleans joined tugboat operators and emergency responders in helping those stranded in the river. Devon Flanagan, who was working at the port, said he saw the cruise ship lying on its side and passengers struggling in the water as vessels from different companies arrived to assist.

The rescue effort involved several boats, with responders working to retrieve people from the water even as other vessels converged on the area.

What caused the tanker to crash into the cruise ship?

The exact cause of the collision remained unknown, but early observations pointed towards a possible steering problem aboard the tanker. Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said the vessel appeared to have experienced some form of loss of steering before hitting the docked cruise ship, as reported by Reuters.

The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to investigate the accident. However, its investigators initially faced difficulties reaching New Orleans because flights across the country had been grounded following communications problems at regional air traffic control centres.

Maritime law expert Martin Davies of Tulane University said the footage suggested a serious failure of systems aboard the tanker. He noted that the vessel was travelling upriver against the current at a relatively slow speed, making the collision particularly unusual.

Davies also pointed out that tankers typically carry local pilots familiar with the waterways and the vessels navigating them. The tanker had already completed the difficult turn at Algiers Point on the Mississippi River before the collision. Investigators will need to establish what went wrong during the vessel's journey.

Passengers evacuated, cruise company conducts headcount

People who were not injured were taken to a nearby auditorium, where cruise officials conducted a roll call to confirm that everyone had been accounted for. Many passengers had lost personal belongings, including identification documents and car keys, during the accident.

Mayor Moreno said several passengers were visiting from outside the area and needed assistance with basic arrangements after the incident. Support was required for contacting family members, replacing access to phones and chargers, arranging meals and securing hotel accommodation and transportation.

The emergency response therefore continued beyond the initial rescue, with local authorities and other personnel helping passengers deal with the immediate consequences of the collision.

What is known about the American Heritage cruise ship and tanker?

The American Heritage was operated by American Cruise Lines and was completing an eight-day journey covering destinations along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi. Built in 2015, the five-deck vessel could accommodate up to 150 passengers.

The cruise ship was scheduled to finish its journey in New Orleans. According to MarineTraffic, it was registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

The 520-foot (160-metre) Atlantic Asphalt tanker specialises in transporting asphalt and bitumen, materials commonly used in road construction and roofing. The vessel is owned by Nave Shipping SA, a company registered in Monrovia, Liberia, according to the International Maritime Organization.

MarineTraffic identified Nave Shipping as a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a major Chinese state-owned shipbuilding conglomerate. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute had reported that the group accounted for nearly a quarter of the global commercial shipbuilding market in 2022 and was also the world's largest military shipbuilder at the time.