Photo: Rescue underway after tanker strikes cruise ship at Port of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Emergency crews were working to rescue people from the Mississippi River on Friday after the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked river cruise ship American Heritage at the Port of New Orleans.

The collision happened around 12:30 p.m. local time. About 129 passengers, along with crew members, were aboard the American Cruise Lines vessel when it was struck, the port told WVUE. The ship had docked about two hours earlier to let passengers disembark.

The port said passengers were being brought into its administration building. The cause of the collision and the number of injuries had yet to be confirmed.