Coast Guard says a loss of steering may have caused the crash
Calls about the collision came in around 13:30 EST (18:30 GMT) on Friday, when people began trying to help passengers escape the boat as it took on water, Port of New Orleans Chief Melanie Montroll told a news conference. There were about 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, aboard the American Heritage at the time of the collision, according to Port of New Orleans.
The American Heritage, a paddlewheeler operated by American Cruise Lines, was finishing an eight-day cruise to Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi. Passengers began disembarking as the vessel started listing before tipping on to its side, Mayor Moreno said. Tugboat operators, police and other rescuers rushed to help, and officials shut down the Mississippi River for the search effort.
US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said the exact cause of the crash remained under investigation, adding: “There seems to be some type of a loss of steering.”
Moreno told the news conference that all credit in the rescue effort went to first responders who “literally jumped right in to help.” “We have zero people unaccounted for which truly is a miracle on the Mississippi,” Moreno said. Governor Jeff Landry also hailed the rescue as a “miracle on the Mississippi” given the “sheer number of people who were on that cruise ship” who were rescued. Landry said ships had operated safely on the Mississippi River for years and pledged to investigate what happened.
The collision left 32 people from the stricken riverboat in hospital with non-critical injuries, but no one was unaccounted for. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the rescue was an “incredible job.” Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said the US Coast Guard also supported local rescue operations.
Jamie Holford, a witness to the crash, told the BBC’s US partner CBS that he saw the cruise ship hit the dock following the collision. “It sounded like a war movie. Just imagine tons of steel crunching. That’s what it sounded like,” he said. “It looked like something off the Titanic.” Holford added that he saw passengers and crew members “hollering” and “crying” as they tried to get off the ship while it was sinking.
The American Heritage can carry up to 150 guests and features a glass-enclosed restaurant, fitness centre and three guest lounges, according to its website. Built in 2015, the vessel has at least four decks.