Tanker Hits Docked Cruise Ship in New Orleans, Sending Passengers Into the Mississippi River
A tanker struck a docked American Cruise Lines river cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, November 13, 2026, flipping the paddlewheel boat onto its side as passengers were getting off and sending some of them into the water. The tanker, the Atlantic Asphalt, hit the riverboat American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. local time, and a massive rescue operation pulled passengers from the river while the vessel took on water and began to topple over at its dock.
By Friday evening, officials confirmed that everyone aboard both vessels had been accounted for, with no fatalities and no critical injuries. Thirty-two people were taken to area hospitals, none with critical injuries. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno called the outcome "a miracle on the Mississippi."
What Happened on the Mississippi River
The collision happened at about 12:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) on Friday, November 13, near the Port of New Orleans, around mile marker 96 of the Mississippi River and under the Crescent City Connection bridge. The American Heritage had docked about two hours earlier after finishing an eight-day cruise to destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi, and passengers were beginning to disembark.
The much larger tanker crashed into the paddlewheel cruise boat amidships while it was docked. The impact pushed the riverboat onto its side, and local television showed videos of the vessel listing heavily, partially submerged, with its paddlewheel out of the water. The Advocate newspaper, citing unnamed Port of New Orleans officials, reported that 129 passengers were aboard when the Atlantic Asphalt hit.
American Cruise Lines said in an emailed statement that it could confirm its riverboat was involved in a collision and that it was working with the US Coast Guard. The cruise ship has a capacity for about 150 people and was built in 2015, according to the company.
The Rescue on the River
Rescue efforts began immediately. The US Coast Guard responded to the collision and closed all river traffic in the vicinity. Coast Guard crews, New Orleans Harbor Police, firefighters, emergency medical teams, and nearby private vessels worked together to pull people from the water. Firefighters lowered ladders over the dock, while a tugboat and other boats pulled passengers out of the river.
Port of New Orleans Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll said the first 87 passengers got off the ship while it was still afloat, before it capsized fully. Local television showed more than a dozen people in life jackets being pulled from the water onto nearby ships. Passengers were brought inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building near the convention center for triage, assistance, and reunification with family.
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin wrote on social media that "we are throwing every asset we have to helping rescue missing passengers" and that his department was coordinating closely with state officials. CBS News reported that at least 14 people had been rescued from the water in the first hours of the operation.
No Deaths, 32 Taken to Hospitals
In a news briefing late Friday afternoon, Mayor Helena Moreno said 32 passengers from the cruise ship were taken to area hospitals for treatment, but none with critical injuries. Two Harbor Police officers were also hospitalized during the rescue operation after ending up in the water, and both were in good condition. The injured suffered mostly bumps and bruises, and no one aboard the tanker was hurt.
"We have zero people unaccounted for, which truly is a miracle on the Mississippi," Moreno said at a news conference, praising the combined efforts of local, state, and federal responders and volunteers. The city later confirmed in an update that all individuals involved in the collision had been accounted for, with no reported fatalities or critical injuries.
President Donald Trump also wrote on Truth Social later Friday afternoon that nobody had been killed and 32 people were in hospital. The Coast Guard confirmed the search and rescue operation had ended by Friday evening.
What Caused the Collision
The exact cause is still under investigation, but early indications point to a steering failure on the tanker. Mayor Moreno said at her news conference shortly after 4:00 p.m. that the tanker "lost control" before striking the riverboat. Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham, commander of Coast Guard Sector New Orleans, said the tanker appeared to have lost steering, but the exact cause was not known.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is launching a Go Team to investigate the collision of the tank vessel and the riverboat-style passenger vessel, and the team expected to arrive on Saturday morning. Coast Guard investigators were already on scene on Friday working to determine what caused the tanker to lose control.
The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 to facilitate emergency operations, and ferry service in the area was suspended. No official statements have indicated terrorism, sabotage, or a cyberattack.
About the Two Vessels
The American Heritage is a paddlewheel riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines. It was built in 2015 and carries about 150 passengers. The ship runs multi-day cruises along the Mississippi River, and this voyage was an eight-day trip through Louisiana and Mississippi that had just ended when the collision happened.
The Atlantic Asphalt is a much larger vessel, an oil tanker that specializes in carrying asphalt and bitumen, a semi-solid substance used for road construction and roofing. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker is about 160 meters long, was built in 2017, and has a deadweight of 17,764 metric tons, according to shipping records. It was about 500 feet long, dwarfing the riverboat it struck.
What Happens Next
Investigators from the Coast Guard and the NTSB will examine the tanker, the riverboat, and the records of both crews to establish exactly how the Atlantic Asphalt lost control in a busy stretch of the river. The NTSB Go Team arriving on Saturday morning will lead the federal investigation, and its findings will take weeks or months.
The American Heritage will need salvage and repair work after rolling onto its side and taking on water at the dock. American Cruise Lines has not yet said when the ship might return to service or how future sailings will be affected. Passengers who were aboard can follow the latest travel updates from the cruise line and the Port of New Orleans for information on luggage recovery, refunds, and rebooked trips.
The river closure between mile markers 93 and 96 will stay in place until emergency operations and the initial investigation are complete. Port officials have not given a time for reopening the stretch to commercial traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were aboard the American Heritage?
About 129 passengers plus crew members were aboard, according to the Port of New Orleans. Mayor Helena Moreno estimated the total at about 180 people. The ship has a capacity for about 150 passengers and had docked about two hours earlier after finishing an eight-day cruise.
Was anyone killed in the New Orleans ship collision?
No. Everyone aboard both vessels was accounted for, and there were no fatalities. Thirty-two people were taken to hospitals, including 30 cruise ship passengers and two Harbor Police officers, but none had critical injuries. The injured suffered mostly bumps and bruises.
What caused the tanker to hit the cruise ship?
The cause is still under investigation. Mayor Helena Moreno said the tanker "lost control" before striking the riverboat, and Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said the tanker appeared to have lost steering. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a Go Team to investigate, and its team was expected to arrive on Saturday morning.
Is the Mississippi River closed in New Orleans?
The US Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 after the collision, and ferry service was suspended in the area. The closure was put in place to facilitate emergency operations and the investigation.
What is the American Heritage?
The American Heritage is a paddlewheel riverboat operated by American Cruise Lines. Built in 2015, it carries about 150 passengers on multi-day cruises along the Mississippi River. It had just finished an eight-day cruise to destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi when the tanker struck it at its dock.
What is the Atlantic Asphalt?
The Atlantic Asphalt is a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker that carries asphalt and bitumen for road construction and roofing. It is about 160 meters long, was built in 2017, and has a deadweight of 17,764 metric tons. No one aboard the tanker was hurt in the collision.
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