A tanker struck a river cruise boat carrying 129 passengers on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday at about 12:30pm local time, partially submerging the vessel and triggering a major rescue operation.
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the American Heritage paddleboat as it was docked and beginning to let passengers off. The Port of New Orleans confirmed the collision. Video showed the larger tanker striking the paddlewheel boat with metal and glass crashing.
Multiple individuals were rescued from the river, where water temperature was 19 degrees Celsius. More than a dozen people in life jackets were pulled from the water onto nearby ships. One witness, Jamie Holford, told local television the boat rolled over within 15 minutes of impact.
Port police, the fire department, the coastguard and emergency medical staff were on scene. A triage area was set up inside the port's administration building. The river was closed to vessel traffic.
Port authorities have not released information on injuries or deaths. American Cruise Lines, which operates the American Heritage, said guests and crew had been evacuated and that it was "deeply concerned for everyone involved."
The American Heritage is a five-deck vessel built in 2015 that holds up to 150 passengers. It was finishing an eight-day cruise to Louisiana and Mississippi destinations. The Atlantic Asphalt tanker is 160 metres long and was bound for New Orleans. The cause of the collision and whether the tanker was carrying cargo remain unknown.