United States: container ship hits cruise ship in New Orleans, 32 injured

A container ship collided with a cruise ship docked at a dock in the port of New Orleans on Friday around 12:30 p.m. local time, on the Mississippi, the ship's company announced. The company chartering the pleasure craft, American Cruise Lines, confirmed in a statement on X that its boat, the "American Heritage", was involved in a collision while docked in New Orleans.

“We have no missing people, which is truly a miracle on Mississippi. And this is to the credit of all the first aid,” greeted the city’s mayor, Helena Moreno, at a press conference late in the afternoon. She said 32 passengers from the cruise ship were in hospital, "none with serious injuries."

Interviewed on local television channel WDSU, Louisiana Vice Governor Billy Nungesser said twelve people had been pulled from the water. On amateur images, we can see the boat tipping onto its side after being hit by the container ship. New Orleans Port Security Director Melanie Montroll said the boat began taking on water and tipping while it was being evacuated. Helena Moreno added that “between 180 and 190” people were on board.

Asked about the investigation, Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Commander Melanie Burnham said “it will take time. (...) I will probably have internal information and good guidance within a few days.” Navigation was interrupted on the Mississippi in the area of ​​the accident. “My intention is to reopen it as soon as possible. “It will probably be one-way traffic” at first, Ms. Burnham said.

In the evening, US President Donald Trump also praised the “incredible rescue work of the first responders”: “Incredibly, no one was killed in this major collision,” he reacted on his Truth Social platform.

“I pray for the success of the rescue mission carried out by the dedicated first responders on the scene, near the port of New Orleans, as well as for the health and safety of all the passengers involved,” reacted Louisiana MP Julia Letlow.