American Heritage takes on water after tanker collision in New Orleans

The American Heritage, a river cruiser owned by American Cruise Lines, collided with the Atlantic Asphalt tanker on the Mississippi River at 12:30 p.m. Friday. The impact caused the vessel to take on water while it was docked outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place.

The ship had arrived at its mooring two hours before the accident to begin the process of unloading passengers. Port of New Orleans officials stated that 129 passengers and crew members were aboard at the time of the collision.

Emergency teams initiated rescue operations immediately following the strike. Passengers are currently being moved into the Port of New Orleans Administration Building for safety and assessment. The Port of New Orleans press office confirmed that multiple individuals have already been rescued, though search and rescue operations continue.

State and local officials have responded to the incident. Governor Jeff Landry confirmed at 2:00 p.m. that he is traveling to New Orleans to oversee the situation. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s communication team reported that the search efforts remain active.

The American Heritage is a key asset for American Cruise Lines, a company that operates excursion vessels on major American waterways. The collision occurred in a high-traffic area near the port's main terminal. The Atlantic Asphalt tanker was identified as the other vessel involved in the accident.

The incident marks the latest disruption in the region's river transport network. Operations at the Port of New Orleans are adjusting to accommodate the emergency response and the evacuation of passengers. The full extent of the damage to the American Heritage is still being assessed by emergency crews.