Tanker Slams Into Docked Riverboat in New Orleans With 129 Passengers Aboard

A tanker slammed into a docked river cruise boat on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday afternoon, knocking the vessel nearly on its side and setting off a scramble to get about 129 passengers to safety. The Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the American Cruise Lines riverboat American Heritage around 12:30 p.m. local time, while the boat sat docked outside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, port officials said. The riverboat had tied up about two hours earlier to start letting passengers off. About 129 passengers, plus crew members, were still aboard when the tanker struck. Video from CNN affiliate WDSU showed the riverboat tipped sharply in the water, partly submerged, with the tanker looming beside it. Emergency crews moved passengers into the administration building at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, where they were checked over and given help. Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical crews all responded to the scene. In a statement, the port said its immediate priority was "the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders." What caused the crash is still unknown. Port officials said the number of injuries and the cause of the collision had not yet been confirmed. "This remains an active and evolving incident," the port said. "Additional updates will be provided as information is confirmed." Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was aware of the incident and was heading to New Orleans. The collision happened on one of the busiest stretches of the Mississippi, where ocean-going ships, tankers and river cruise boats share a narrow, fast-moving channel past the city's riverfront. Large vessels move through the port every day, and a docked riverboat sits exposed to that traffic. For the passengers aboard the American Heritage, the day had been a routine end to a river cruise. Instead, they spent the afternoon being led off a listing boat and into a port building while firefighters and Coast Guard crews worked around them. Officials have not said when the boat will be moved, or what happens next for the passengers. Rescue efforts were still underway in the afternoon, with crews working to account for everyone who had been aboard. Passengers were brought ashore in groups and taken inside the port building for triage and assistance. Officials had not said how many people were hurt, or how seriously, and that count was still being put together as crews worked through the scene. The American Heritage is one of American Cruise Lines' riverboats, part of a fleet that carries passengers on cruises along the Mississippi and other American rivers. Friday's sailing had been winding down when the tanker struck, with passengers already starting to leave the boat. What was supposed to be the quiet end of a trip turned into an afternoon of sirens, rescue boats and families waiting for news. For now, the two questions that matter most are simple: how many people were hurt, and how a tanker hit a boat that was not moving. Neither had an answer on Friday afternoon. Officials said more information would follow once it was confirmed. The cause remains under investigation, and the city advised people to avoid the area while emergency crews worked. More details were expected through the evening as officials confirmed them.