Tanker hits docked river cruise ship in New Orleans

Résumé détaillé

A tanker ship has collided with a river cruise boat docked in New Orleans with around 130 passengers onboard, leaving the vessel partially submerged.

A tanker ship has collided with a river cruise boat docked in New Orleans with around 130 passengers onboard, leaving the vessel partially submerged, the cruise line and local media reported.

Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser told NBC affiliate WDSU by phone that at least 12 people were pulled from the water, but he did not have complete information on the rescue operation.

TV images showed the cruise boat, the American Heritage operated by American Cruise Lines, listing before it came to rest on its side in shallow water in the Mississippi River.

"American Cruise Lines can confirm that our riverboat, American Heritage, was involved in a collision while it was docked in New Orleans," the company said in a statement.

"Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved," it said, without offering any details about the condition of the passengers and crew.

The Mississippi River was closed to vessel traffic in the area of the incident.

It was not immediately clear why the tanker, the Atlantic Asphalt, collided with the river cruiser, which had docked about two hours before the collision.

Firefighters, police, port officials, the Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel were all on the scene.

Port officials said in a statement cited by local media that the number of injuries was not yet confirmed.

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