Governor Landry Monitoring New Orleans River Cruise Collision

A tanker struck a river cruise ship on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans on Friday, leaving the passenger vessel partially submerged and on its side.

The collision occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time when the Atlantic Asphalt, a much larger tanker, crashed into the American Heritage paddlewheel cruise boat while it was docked, according to Port NOLA. The American Heritage had arrived at the dock about two hours earlier to allow passengers to disembark, officials said.

Rescuers are currently working to assist those on board the vessel. There were approximately 129 passengers and crew members on the American Heritage at the time of the impact, Port NOLA reported.

Passengers being rescued after tanker crashes into American Heritage cruise ship — WWLTV

“It looked like something off the Titanic,” Jamie Holford, a witness, told CBS News.

Holford described a chaotic scene as the vessel began to roll over. He saw people hurrying off the boat and others climbing over the railings as the ship listed further into the water. When asked about the sound of the impact, Holford said, “It sounded like a war movie. Just imagine tons of steel crunching. That’s what it sounded like,” he told CBS News.

LIVE Updates: Tanker collides with cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans — WDSU News

Multiple agencies are managing the scene and conducting rescue operations. These include the Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard, according to Port NOLA.

Nearby boats have already reported rescuing more than a dozen people from the water. Witnesses observed individuals in life jackets in the water or standing near the railings as the ship listed.

Curving road along mississippi river during autumn

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry confirmed he is monitoring the situation. “We are aware of the incident on the Mississippi and we are in close contact with local officials and law enforcement. I am headed to New Orleans now,” Landry said.

The American Heritage, operated by American Cruise Lines, is a five-story vessel built in 2015 with a capacity for up to 150 passengers. The collision involves the Atlantic Asphalt, a tanker that specializes in transporting large quantities of asphalt and bitumen. According to MarineTraffic, these substances are semi-solids commonly used in roofing and road construction.

Tanker collides with river cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans — WEAR Channel 3 News

The collision has drawn immediate attention to the intersection of commercial shipping traffic and passenger tourism on the Mississippi River. While the exact cause of the tanker's trajectory is unclear, the scale of the impact between a heavy industrial tanker and a smaller passenger craft shows the risks of traveling through high-traffic maritime corridors.

The situation remains a developing story.