Tanker collides with American Heritage river cruise boat in New Orleans, 129 aboard

A tanker hit the American Heritage river cruise paddleboat on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, leaving the five-story vessel partially submerged with 129 passengers on board. Officials said the 520-foot Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the cruise boat while it appeared to be docked, causing metal and glass to break and the vessel to list to one side.

Rescue crews scrambled to retrieve passengers, many of whom were seen wearing life jackets in the 66°F (19°C) water. Survivors were taken to a nearby port building for assistance. The cruise ship, built in 2015 and operated by American Cruise Lines, can accommodate up to 150 passengers and was concluding an eight-day itinerary along the Mississippi River.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker, which transports asphalt and bitumen, was en route to New Orleans under a Marshall Islands flag and is owned by Nave Shipping SA, a Liberian-registered company. It was not immediately clear whether the vessel was carrying cargo at the time of the collision.

"Surreal — that’s what that was," witness Jamie Holford told WDSU-TV.

Authorities have not released details on injuries or fatalities, and a spokesperson for the cruise line said a message had been taken but no further information was available at the time.