LIVE: ‘Miracle on the Mississippi’ | No fatalities after tanker crashes into river cruiser carrying nearly 150 people near Port of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - THIS BREAKING NEWS STORY WILL BE UPDATED.

The Port of New Orleans press secretary said a tanker allided with the American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage around 12:30 p.m. Friday (Nov. 13).

At the time of the allision, there were about 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, aboard the American Heritage, Port NOLA said.

An allision, different from a collision, is when a moving ship crashes into a stationary one.

The river cruiser was docked on the Mississippi River outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place when the Atlantic Asphalt tanker crashed into it, Port NOLA said.

The ship docked two hours earlier to begin passenger disembarkation, Port NOLA said.

Emergency response teams are conducting rescue and response operations. Passengers are being brought inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, Port NOLA officials said.

UPDATE 5 p.m.: President Trump thanked the United States Coast Guard on Truth Social for “doing such an incredible job of rescue.”

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: The National Transportation Safety Board launches a Go Team to investigate the collision.

The team is set to arrive Saturday (Nov. 14) morning.

UPDATE 4:11 p.m.: Mayor Helena Moreno says all crew and passengers have been accounted for and there have been no fatalities.

32 people have been hospitalized, but Mayor Moreno says no one is in critical condition.

UPDATE 4:06 p.m.: “My heart is with the survivors, their families, and everyone who witnessed this horrific accident,” Congressman Troy Carter said.

Carter is monitoring the situation closely and said he commends the swift actions of the emergency response teams.

UPDATE 3:59 p.m.: For information on people missing involved in the crash, call 311 in New Orleans or 504-539-3266, the NOLA Ready team said.

UPDATE 3:32 p.m.: The U.S. Coast Guard said their “hearts are with the passengers, crew, and families” affected by the ship allision.

The river is closed to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96, the Coast Guard said.

UPDATE 2:10 p.m.: New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s communication team said multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing.

UPDATE 2:00 p.m.: Governor Jeff Landry has confirmed he is aware of the incident and is heading to New Orleans as of 2 p.m.

Mayor Helena Moreno responded to the incident with the following statement:

“Emergency crews are responding to a collision involving a cargo ship and a riverboat cruise ship near the Port of New Orleans. Multiple individuals have been rescued, and search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing. Public safety agencies are coordinating response efforts, with the immediate priority being the safety and rescue of those involved. This remains an active and developing incident. Updates to follow.”

President Trump made a post on Truth Social thanking the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Thank you to the United States Coast Guard for doing such an incredible job of rescue, and other work, having to do with the crash of the two ships in Louisiana,” President Trump posted. “Likewise, all of Law Enforcement and First Responders were fantastic! Incredibly, nobody was killed by this major collision. 32 people are in the hospital. Thank you to Governor Jeff Landry for your outstanding leadership during this very agonizing period of time.”

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