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Watch: Passengers jump into water as luxury ship collides with tanker on Mississippi River

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The collision occurred as the American Heritage concluded an eight-day voyage and was struck by the Atlantic Asphalt, causing the passenger ship to overturn during evacuation efforts. Tugboat crews, dock workers, and police pulled passengers and two officers from the river, sending at least 32 individuals to nearby hospitals. Coast Guard officials noted the tanker appeared to suffer steering loss prior to the impact. Uninjured travelers were moved to a local auditorium to receive emergency accommodations, food, and assistance with missing personal items.

Key points

  • All passengers and crew members aboard the overturned American Cruise Lines vessel were a…: All passengers and crew members aboard the overturned American Cruise Lines vessel were accounted for following the rescue operation.
  • Preliminary findings from the Coast Guard indicate the tanker likely suffered a loss of s…: Preliminary findings from the Coast Guard indicate the tanker likely suffered a loss of steering prior to the collision.
  • Widespread air traffic control communication problems grounded nationwide flights, initia…: Widespread air traffic control communication problems grounded nationwide flights, initially delaying federal safety investigators from reaching the crash site.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NEW DELHI: A tanker rammed into a docked cruise ship at the Port of New Orleans on Friday, causing the passenger vessel to take on water, list sharply and eventually overturn on the Mississippi River. All passengers and crew were rescued, but at least 32 people were taken to hospital, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said.

Around 180 people, including passengers and crew, were aboard the five-storey cruise ship American Heritage when the tanker, identified as Atlantic Asphalt, collided with it. None of those taken to hospital suffered critical injuries, Moreno said.

The tanker apparently lost steering before crashing into the cruise vessel, triggering a large-scale rescue operation. Tugboat operators, dock workers, police personnel and other rescuers rushed to the scene as passengers and crew were evacuated. Several people were pulled from the river after falling into the water.

"We have zero people unaccounted for, which truly is a miracle on the Mississippi,” Moreno said at a news conference, as rescuers and others cheered.

“It was docked right at the Port of New Orleans when a tanker ship lost control…

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