A tanker hit the American Heritage river cruise paddleboat in New Orleans on Friday, with rescues underway and 129 passengers aboard.
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A tanker struck the American Heritage river cruise paddleboat in New Orleans on Friday, partially submerging the vessel as rescues were underway on the Mississippi River, officials said.
The American Heritage had 129 passengers aboard, according to the information provided. Authorities did not immediately release whether there were injuries or deaths.
Video from the scene showed the Atlantic Asphalt tanker striking the paddlewheel cruise boat while it appeared to be docked, with metal and glass falling as the American Heritage listed into the water.
Witness Jamie Holford said the rollover happened quickly, telling WDSU-TV: “Surreal — that’s what that was,” adding, “Fifteen minutes from impact to where it rolled over.”
More than a dozen people in lifejackets were being pulled from the 66-degree Fahrenheit (19-degree Celsius) river onto nearby ships, while others remained near the railing as the boat continued to settle.
The American Heritage, built in 2015 and operated by American Cruise Lines, is a five-storey ship that can hold up to 150 passengers.
The cruise was finishing an eight-day trip with destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker involved in the crash specializes in carrying large quantities of asphalt and bitumen, a semi-solid substance used for road construction and roofing, according to MarineTraffic. Marine Insights said ships carrying asphalt and bitumen are often heated well above 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius) to prevent the asphalt from solidifying. It was not immediately clear whether the tanker was carrying any materials at the time of the crash.
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