The company chartering the pleasure vessel, American Cruise Lines, confirmed in a post on X that its ship, the “American Heritage,” was involved in a collision while moored at a dock in New Orleans.
“We have no missing persons, which is a true miracle on the Mississippi. And credit goes to all the first responders,” the city’s mayor, Helena Moreno, said at a press conference in the late afternoon.
She noted that 32 passengers from the cruise ship were hospitalized, “none with serious injuries”.
Asked on the local television channel WDSU, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said that twelve people had been pulled from the water.
In amateur footage, the vessel can be seen tilting onto its side after being struck by the container ship.
The Port of New Orleans’ security director, Melanie Montroll, explained that the ship began taking on water and tipping as it was being evacuated.
Helena Moreno added that “between 180 and 190” people were aboard.
Asked about the investigation, the commander of the New Orleans sector of the Coast Guard, Melanie Burnham, stated that “this will take time. (…) I will likely have internal information and a clear direction within a few days”.
Navigation on the Mississippi in the vicinity of the accident has been halted.
“My intention is to reopen it as soon as possible. It will likely be one-way traffic initially”, Burnham clarified.
In the evening, U.S. President Donald Trump also praised the “incredible rescue work by the first responders”: “Incredible, no one was killed in this major collision”, he commented on his Truth Social platform.
“I pray for the success of the rescue mission carried out by the devoted first responders at the scene, near the Port of New Orleans, and for the health and safety of all passengers involved,” Louisiana Representative Julia Letlow said.
