'Miracle on the Mississippi': All passengers on a New Orleans cruise ship have been accounted for following a collision with an oil tanker
Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin stated that, "by the grace of God," no lives were lost in the crash or during the rescue operation.
VOZ Media
Authorities in New Orleans confirmed that there are no missing or deceased persons after the tanker Atlantic Asphalt collided with the river cruise ship American Heritage, anchored on the Mississippi River, causing it to capsize. About 180 to 190 people were on board when the collision occurred; 32 were taken to hospitals and none suffered critical injuries, according to Mayor Helena Moreno at a press conference and as confirmed by the Port of New Orleans.
Moreno described the outcome as "a miracle on the Mississippi" and stated that, based on the available information, "zero people" remained unaccounted for. The search-and-rescue operation concluded after emergency crews evacuated the passengers and crew members who were still in the water or on the tilted vessel.
What happened?
The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, when the tanker Atlantic Asphalt rammed the American Heritage, operated by American Cruise Lines, while the cruise ship was docked at the Port of New Orleans and passengers were beginning to disembark. Following the impact, the ship began taking on water and eventually capsized, triggering an immediate multi-agency response.
The Coast Guard indicated that the oil tanker appears to have "lost control," although the exact cause of the loss of steering control remains unknown. Captain Melanie Burnham explained that a river pilot was maneuvering the vessel and that the investigation is ongoing.
The emergency response
The New Orleans Port Police were among the first to respond, followed by the New Orleans Fire Department and Police Department, the Coast Guard, emergency medical services and other local, state and federal agencies. Several nearby boats also helped rescue people who had fallen into the river.
Firefighters used ladders from the dock to help evacuate the occupants, while other vessels picked up those in the water. The city stated that a unified command center was established to coordinate the response and that the Coast Guard will lead the next phase, focused on assessing the damage, planning the salvage operation and evaluating the safe reopening of river traffic.
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Injuries and toll
Authorities reported that 32 people were taken to hospitals in the area. Mayor Moreno said none of them had critical injuries; local media reported that among those hospitalized were 30 passengers and two Port Police officers who had fallen into the water.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, also emphasized that there were no fatalities and described the outcome as "literally a miracle on the Mississippi." Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, stated that, "by the grace of God," no lives were lost in the collision or during the rescue.
Investigation underway
The Port of New Orleans and the city have urged caution in the area while recovery efforts continue. For now, authorities have not formally assigned blame nor have they determined what went wrong with the Atlantic Asphalt's steering system.
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