Cruise Ship Capsizes After Collision With Freighter in New Orleans
A paddlewheel vessel overturned in the Mississippi River following a strike by a cargo ship, resulting in over 30 hospitalizations and the rescue of at least 180 people.
By Amir Navarro ·
More than thirty individuals were transported to hospitals following a collision between a freighter and a cruise ship on the Mississippi River in the United States on Friday. Authorities reported that no deaths were confirmed in the incident, which occurred near the port of New Orleans.
Rescue operations managed to recover at least 180 passengers and crew members from the water. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno characterized the event as a miracle on the Mississippi. She noted that while many were injured, none of those hospitalized were in critical condition.
Video footage of the scene captured the paddlewheel vessel, identified as The American Heritage, capsizing after being struck by a significantly larger cargo vessel named the Atlantic Asphalt. The impact occurred while the cruise ship was docked. Emergency responders were seen urgently assisting individuals in life jackets to get out of the river.
Devon Flanagan, a local witness who observed the accident, described the scene as chaotic. He told the Associated Press that various types of ships, including barges from other companies, arrived to assist. Flanagan explained that the rescue efforts were complicated by the fact that people were still in the water amidst the activity.
American Cruise Lines, the operator of The American Heritage, released a statement expressing deep concern for all involved. The company confirmed that guests and crew had been evacuated. The vessel, which was constructed in 2015, stands five stories tall and has a passenger capacity of up to 150.
At the time of the collision, the cruise ship was completing an eight day itinerary that visited several destinations along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi. When news of the accident first emerged, it was initially uncertain whether any fatalities had occurred or the exact number of people who were injured or missing.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated that he was traveling to New Orleans to oversee the response. He posted on social media that his office was aware of the incident and was maintaining close contact with local officials and law enforcement agencies.
Markwayne Mullin, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, also addressed the situation on social media. He said his department was deploying all available assets to assist in rescuing missing passengers. Mullin added that his team was coordinating closely with state authorities to manage the emergency response.
