A cruise ship carrying 129 people began sinking in the Mississippi River on Friday after colliding with a tanker.
The American Heritage, a paddle-wheel vessel operated by American Cruise Lines, was docked in New Orleans when it was struck by the 520-foot Atlantic Asphalt.
Disturbing images appeared to show passengers clinging to railings as the cruise ship began to list and capsize.
The 17,764-dwt vessel that hit the ship usually transports asphalt and was traveling in ballast toward Louisiana on Friday, Argus Media reported.
At the time of the crash, the specialized bitumen tanker—which is built to carry liquid bitumen and other heavy petroleum products at high temperatures—was empty.
According to Vessel Finder, the ship was built in 2017 and sailed under the flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The tanker left the Gulf of Mexico on November 10 and was bound for US M8Y, the designation for Mount Airy, Louisiana, according to Marine Traffic.
The website said the vessel was heading toward the Mount Airy terminal area along the Lower Mississippi River.
The 520-foot Atlantic Asphalt collided with American Cruise Lines’ paddle-wheel vessel American Heritage in New Orleans
The tanker left the Gulf of Mexico on November 10 and was traveling toward US M8Y, the designation for Mount Airy, Louisiana
Vessel Finder reported that the tanker was scheduled to reach the dock at 12:30 a.m. on November 11.
Experts said the tanker was moving upriver on Friday afternoon to collect cargo when it made a sharp turn and struck the passenger vessel.
The precise cause of the collision, which happened shortly after midday, remains unknown.
The US Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. Local experts suggested the tanker may have lost control or suffered a steering failure before the crash, the New York Post reported.
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“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 tanker measures 160 meters in length and 23.5 meters in width, and is painted green and red.
Vessel Finder listed its gross tonnage at approximately 14,485 and its deadweight at 17,764 tons.
The tanker typically travels at speeds ranging from 11.2 to 14.6 knots.
A river pilot 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, which is based in Liberia, the outlet reported.
Robert LeBlanc, the founder and CEO of another vessel-tracking service, said currents in the Mississippi River may have played a role in the tanker’s collision with the American Heritage.
People were helped from the water after the collision caused the cruise ship to capsize
The American Heritage was completing an eight-day voyage that had visited destinations along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The five-story cruise ship can accommodate 150 passengers and was seen being pulled into the river as the tanker scraped against it.
Police officers could be seen rushing along the dock while frightened passengers cried out.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said at about 4 p.m. local time on Friday that 32 cruise passengers had been taken to local hospitals. None had suffered critical injuries.
Moreno also said no one was unaccounted for, describing the outcome as “truly a miracle on the Mississippi.”
She added that the ship had narrowly avoided striking a bridge used by approximately 160,000 vehicles each day.
