‘Miracle On The Mississippi’
No one was reported critically injured, but 32 were hospitalized after a tanker struck American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage river cruiseboat about 12:30 p.m. November 13 in New Orleans as passengers were disembarking. All passengers were accounted for.
The American Heritage rolled onto its side, causing some people to jump into the water and others to scramble to shore. No one aboard the tanker, the Atlantic Asphalt, was injured, according to state and federal officials speaking at a news conference about four hours later.
“This is a miracle on the Mississippi,” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said at the news conference.
The collision happened at Lower Mississippi River Mile 96. Traffic on the river was halted while rescue operations were underway. U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said in the news conference that the river would be opened as soon as possible to keep commerce flowing but that traffic likely would be one direction at first.
Eighty-seven people were evacuated from the American Heritage before it rolled onto its side, police and fire officials said. Of the 32 hospitalized, 30 were passengers, and the other two were first responders assisting with the evacuation, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said.
Local media reports described the contact as the tanker “T-boning” the cruise boat, and at least one video showed the tanker hitting the cruise boat, which was docked.
Several boats, including towboats, were reported as rescuing people from the water. Landry all thanked the first responders—including the towboat crews who “jumped into action.” Moreno said that a total of between 180 and 190 people including crew were aboard the vessel.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were assembled but delayed due to a nationwide ground stoppage of flights from the Federal Aviation Administration, due to a communications problem.
The Atlantic Asphalt (IMO Number 9798428) is an asphalt/bitumen vessel sailing under the flag of the Marshall islands, but it is owned by Scott Owen Savage, a South Carolina entrepreneur and third-generation construction veteran.
