180 rescued after tanker collision capsizes cruise ship on Mississippi River

A tanker collided with the docked cruise ship American Heritage on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, causing the five-storey vessel to capsize and leave passengers in the water. All 180 people aboard were rescued, making the rapid response by emergency crews and nearby members of the public central to the story.

The 520-foot tanker, Atlantic Asphalt, struck the cruise ship shortly after midday, after reportedly narrowly missing a bridge. About 87 passengers had disembarked before the ship flipped, while 32 people were taken to hospital with no critical injuries reported; two were harbour police officers who entered the water to help.