A tanker collided with a docked river cruise ship on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, 13 November 2026, causing the American Heritage to roll on to its side and become partially submerged. All 129 passengers and crew members were accounted for, while 32 people were taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered critical. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-tanker-river-cruise-rescue-passengers-757bed7a70ceb72f0d7140143fe2a764))
The Atlantic Asphalt struck the American Cruise Lines vessel at about 12.30pm near 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, according to port officials. The cruise ship had arrived roughly two hours earlier and was beginning to disembark passengers when the collision occurred. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2026/11/13/new-orleans-cruise-ship-tanker-strike))
Emergency crews rushed to the scene as passengers were helped from the stricken vessel and taken into the Port of New Orleans Administration Building. Nearby tugboat operators, dock workers, police and other rescuers also joined the response, the Associated Press reported.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said there were no missing passengers or crew, describing the outcome as “a miracle on the Mississippi”. She said city firefighters used ladders placed across the dock to help people climb to safety.
Video from the scene showed the much larger tanker striking the cruise boat as metal and glass broke apart. The American Heritage was left lying on its side in the water, with rescue teams working around the vessel.
The US Coast Guard said it was responding with local agencies near mile marker 96. The river was closed to vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while authorities assessed the damage and carried out rescue and response operations.
It remains unclear what caused the collision. The Atlantic Asphalt was immobilised on the river at about 2pm local time, with two tugboats positioned alongside it, according to Axios. The tanker, which is registered in the Marshall Islands, had arrived at the Port of New Orleans on 11 November. ([axios.com](https://www.axios.com/2026/11/13/new-orleans-cruise-ship-tanker-strike))
American Cruise Lines confirmed that its guests and crew had been evacuated and said it was working with the US Coast Guard and local authorities.
The American Heritage was built in 2015 and can carry up to 150 passengers. The five-storey paddlewheeler had been completing an eight-day cruise through destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi. The Port of New Orleans lists it as a year-round vessel operating between New Orleans and Memphis. ([americancruiselines.com](https://www.americancruiselines.com/ships/paddlewheeler-cruise-ships/american-heritage))
The Atlantic Asphalt is a 520ft tanker designed to carry asphalt and bitumen. It was bound for New Orleans when the collision occurred, although it was not immediately clear whether it was carrying cargo at the time.
