A major maritime accident took place in New Orleans, Louisiana when a large tanker crashed into a river cruise ship on the Mississippi River; an extensive rescue operation was launched. All passengers and crew aboard the cruise ship were rescued but several people were injured.
The collision occurred on Friday, November 13, 2026 when the tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit the American Heritage river cruise ship near the Port of New Orleans. The impact caused the cruise vessel to take on water, tilt and eventually capsize.
How Did the New Orleans Ship Collision Happen?
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the American Heritage as it was tied up on the Mississippi River. Initial reports said that the passenger ship was struck by the tanker while docked there.
The collision happened at about 12:30 PM local time. The cruise ship had docked about two hours earlier and was getting ready for passengers to disembark when the collision took place.
The tanker had apparently lost control before hitting the much smaller cruise ship. But the cause of the accident has not been determined.
Video footage from the location showed the tanker hitting the cruise ship hard. The American Heritage began taking on water and slowly rolled onto its side.
Around 180 People Rescued from the Cruise Ship
The accident prompted an emergency response from the New Orleans Fire Department, police, port authorities, US Coast Guard and nearby vessel operators.
Officials said there were 129 passengers aboard the American Heritage and crew members as well. Total survivors were estimated at around 180 people.
Several passengers and crew were pulled from the Mississippi River as the vessel began capsizing. Boats nearby, tugboat operators and port workers also came to help.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said everyone was accounted for and that the rescue was a miracle on the Mississippi.
32 People Hospitalised After the Accident
Although no one was killed, the collision injured several people.
Authorities said 32 people were taken to hospitals for treatment. None of the reported injuries was considered serious.
Two police officers were also among those who entered the water during the emergency response and were taken for medical help.
No one was reported injured on the Atlantic Asphalt tanker.
New Orleans Port right now This was filmed potentially by Port employee in NO. I do not have a name. Feel free to let me know so I can credit your work. Thank you. ☺️ https://t.co/MmkF2RKONm
— by Gravity (@WingsSoon) November 13, 2026
What happened to the American Heritage Cruise Ship?
The American Heritage is a five-storey paddlewheel river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines. Built in 2015, the ship has capacity for up to 150 passengers.
We were finishing an eight day cruise visiting places along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi.
After the collision, part of the vessel sank and capsized leaving a large portion of the ship underwater.
American Cruise Lines confirmed the collision and said it was coordinating with the US Coast Guard and local authorities. It also said it was concerned for the passengers and crew members involved.
Investigation into the Mississippi River Collision
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances of the collision, including whether the tanker had steering problems.
The US Coast Guard and other agencies are involved in the response and investigation. It also closed a section of the Mississippi River to vessel traffic while emergency operations were conducted.
The accident could have been a disaster because so many people were aboard the cruise ship. But emergency responders, nearby vessels and port workers all worked together to make sure everyone lived.
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