Tanker collides with riverboat transporting 129 passengers near New Orleans

A tanker reportedly collided with a riverboat on Friday that was transporting 129 passengers down the Mississippi River near the port of New Orleans in Louisiana.Rescue operations were underway Friday afternoon after the riverboat was partially submerged, according to officials. 
Authorities did not immediately indicate whether there were any injuries or deaths, according to the Associated Press.
The riverboat was operated by American Cruise Lines, which confirmed the incident to News Nation.
“American Cruise Lines can confirm that our riverboat, American Heritage, was involved in a collision while it was docked in New Orleans,” a spokesperson for the company said. “We are in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities. Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved.”
The riverboat, which can carry up to 150 passengers, was finishing an eight-day cruise to several Mississippi River destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
The tanker involved in the crash specializes in carrying large quantities of asphalt and bitumen, which is a semi-solid substance that is often used for road construction and roofing, though it was not clear whether it was transporting any at the time of the collision.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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