The Atlantic Asphalt was travelling upstream along the Mississippi River, having passed the French Quarter, when it went beneath a bridge and struck the docked cruise boat.
A tanker lost control before crashing into a docked river cruise ship on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans on Friday, causing the passenger vessel to capsize. At least 32 people were taken to hospitals for treatment, but all passengers aboard the cruise ship have been accounted for, officials said.
The collision involved the Atlantic Asphalt tanker and the American Heritage, a riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines. The incident occurred at around 12:30 pm local time, when the tanker struck the passenger vessel near its docking point, according to port officials.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said the tanker had “lost control” before hitting the cruise ship. Between 180 and 190 people were aboard the vessel at the time of the accident, she said.
Thirty-two people were being treated at local hospitals, although none had sustained critical injuries. Two of those hospitalised were police officers who had assisted with the evacuation, Moreno added.