Approximately 130 individuals on board a cruise ship in New Orleans were successfully rescued on Friday after the vessel was struck by a cargo tanker. The American Heritage, a riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines, was left resting on its side in the Mississippi River following the collision with the Atlantic Asphalt.
The incident resulted in 32 people from the stricken boat being transported to hospitals with non-critical injuries. However, officials confirmed that no one was left unaccounted for. Local authorities have described the outcome as a miracle on the Mississippi given the scale of the event.
Calls regarding the collision began to come in around 13:30 EST, or 18:30 GMT, on Friday. Port of New Orleans Chief Melanie Montroll stated that residents and nearby workers began assisting passengers in escaping the boat as it took on water. At the time of the crash, the vessel was carrying about 129 passengers in addition to the crew members.
US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham indicated that the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. She noted that there appeared to be a loss of steering involved in the incident. The American Heritage was in the final stages of an eight-day cruise that visited various destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno held a news conference to credit the first responders for their swift actions. She stated that they literally jumped in to help the victims. Moreno emphasized that having zero people unaccounted for was a true miracle on the Mississippi.
Tugboat operators, police officers, and other rescue personnel rushed to the scene to assist. Officials shut down the Mississippi River to facilitate the search and rescue efforts. Passengers began disembarking from the paddlewheeler as it started to list before ultimately tipping onto its side.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the rescue effort was an incredible job. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin added that the US Coast Guard provided support to the local rescue operations. Governor Jeff Landry also hailed the rescue as a miracle, citing the sheer number of people on the ship who were saved.
Landry noted that ships have operated safely on the Mississippi River for many years. He pledged to investigate the circumstances leading to the crash. The American Heritage, which was built in 2015, features at least four decks. According to its website, the vessel can carry up to 150 guests and includes a glass-enclosed restaurant, a fitness center, and three guest lounges.
Jamie Holford, a witness to the crash, spoke to the BBC's US partner CBS about the scene. He described the sound of the collision as similar to a war movie, with the noise of tons of steel crunching. He said the sight resembled something from the Titanic, adding that he saw passengers and crew hollering and crying as they tried to leave the sinking ship.
