A cruise ship carrying 129 people began sinking in the Mississippi River on Friday after a tanker struck it while it was docked in New Orleans.
The vessel involved was American Cruise Lines’ paddle-wheel ship, American Heritage, which was hit by the 520-foot Atlantic Asphalt.
Distressing photographs from the scene showed passengers clinging to railings as the cruise ship tilted and began to capsize.
The 17,764-deadweight-ton tanker was traveling in ballast toward Louisiana on Friday, meaning it was not carrying cargo, according to Argus Media.
Atlantic Asphalt is a specialized bitumen carrier built to transport liquid bitumen and other heavy petroleum products at high temperatures. It was empty when the collision occurred.
Constructed in 2017, the tanker sails under the flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, according to Vessel Finder.
Tracking data showed that the ship left the Gulf of Mexico on November 10 and was heading toward US M8Y, the designation for Mount Airy, Louisiana, Marine Traffic reported.
The tanker was making its way along the Lower Mississippi River toward the Mount Airy terminal area.
The 520-foot Atlantic Asphalt collided with American Cruise Lines’ paddle-wheel ship American Heritage in New Orleans
Atlantic Asphalt had left the Gulf of Mexico on November 10 and was bound for US M8Y, the Mount Airy terminal in Louisiana
Vessel Finder indicated that the tanker was scheduled to reach the dock at 12:30 a.m. on November 11.
By Friday afternoon, the ship was traveling upriver to collect cargo when it reportedly made a sharp turn and struck the passenger vessel.
The precise circumstances surrounding the collision, which happened shortly after midday, remain unknown.
The US Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. Local experts suggested the tanker may have lost control or experienced a steering problem before the crash, according to the New York Post.
“This remains an active and evolving incident. The number of injuries and the cause of the collision have not yet been confirmed. Additional updates will be provided as information is confirmed,” Port of New Orleans press secretary Kimberly Curth said.
The green-and-red tanker measures 160 meters in length and 23.5 meters across.
Its gross tonnage is approximately 14,485, while its deadweight capacity is 17,764 tons, Vessel Finder said.
The vessel typically travels at speeds ranging from 11.2 to 14.6 knots.
A river pilot affiliated with the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association was aboard the tanker, a source told Nola.
The Atlantic Asphalt is registered to Nave Shipping SA, a company based in Liberia, the outlet reported.
Robert LeBlanc, founder and chief executive of another ship-tracking service, said the powerful currents in the Mississippi River may also have played a role in the tanker’s impact with the American Heritage.
Rescuers helped people from the water after the collision caused the cruise ship to capsize
The American Heritage had been completing an eight-day voyage featuring stops along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The five-story cruise ship can accommodate 150 passengers and was seen being dragged into the river as the tanker passed alongside it.
As frightened passengers shouted, police officers could be seen rushing along the dock to assist with the emergency response.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said at about 4 p.m. local time Friday that 32 cruise passengers had been taken to local hospitals. None was reported to have suffered critical injuries.
Moreno also said everyone had been accounted for, describing the outcome as “truly a miracle on the Mississippi.”
She added that the cruise ship narrowly avoided striking a bridge used by approximately 160,000 vehicles each day.