A tanker ship struck a docked river cruise boat in New Orleans on Friday, causing the vessel to capsize on the Mississippi River, officials said.
The American Heritage, a riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines, had been docked for about two hours when the 520-foot tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit it at about 12:30 p.m. local time near the Crescent City Connection bridge.
About 180 to 190 passengers and crew were aboard, and all were accounted for. About 87 people got off before the boat turned on its side, while others were pulled from the water by harbour personnel, firefighters and onlookers.
Thirty-two people were taken to local hospitals, none with critical injuries. Two of those hospitalised were police officers who had been helping with the evacuations.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry called the outcome “a literal miracle on the Mississippi.”
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The US Coast Guard said the tanker appeared to have suffered a steering failure. The Mississippi River was closed to vessel traffic in the area, and the US Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation.
American Cruise Lines said guests and crew were evacuated and it was getting everyone settled into hotels.
Source: AFP
