The New Orleans cruise ship collision on Friday sent a docked river cruise ship onto its side in the Mississippi River, with 129 passengers aboard, as rescuers pulled people from the water and a major emergency response rushed to the scene.
FAKTA
- What happened: The tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked river cruise ship American Heritage in New Orleans.
- When: Friday, 13 November 2026, at about 12:30 p.m. local time.
- Where: On the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans, near mile marker 96, below the Crescent City Connection bridge.
- Aboard: 129 passengers plus crew members.
- Rescued: At least 14 people were pulled from the water, and more than a dozen people were taken to hospital.
- The ship: The American Heritage is a 150-passenger paddlewheel riverboat, built in 2015. It took on water, rolled onto its side and partly submerged alongside the dock.
What happened
The Atlantic Asphalt, a Marshall Islands-flagged asphalt and bitumen tanker, collided with the American Cruise Lines riverboat American Heritage while the cruise ship was docked at the Port of New Orleans. Video of the incident shows the tanker striking the port side of the docked vessel.
The American Heritage had docked about two hours earlier to begin passenger disembarkation, and was due to begin an eight-day Mississippi cruise from New Orleans on Friday. After the impact, the riverboat took on water, rolled over and partly submerged alongside the dock.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Authorities have not said whether the tanker suffered a mechanical or propulsion failure before the impact.
Rescue under way
The US Coast Guard, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, emergency medical personnel and Port NOLA Harbor Police all responded to the scene. The Coast Guard closed a three-mile stretch of the Mississippi to all vessel traffic, between mile markers 93 and 96, while crews worked.
At least 14 people were rescued from the water, CBS News reported. More than a dozen people were taken to hospital, local station WDSU reported, citing the mayor’s office. Officials had not confirmed any deaths, and the number of people injured had not been confirmed as rescue work continued.
American Cruise Lines confirmed that its riverboat was involved in a collision while docked in New Orleans, and said guests and crew were being evacuated. “We are deeply concerned for everyone involved,” the company said. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said he was aware of the incident and was heading to New Orleans.
New Orleans cruise ship collision: what we know so far
Vessel-tracking data recorded a proximity event involving the Atlantic Asphalt at 18:29 UTC, corresponding with the reported time of the collision. The 160-metre tanker had arrived in New Orleans on 11 November, two days earlier, after departing Paulsboro, New Jersey, on 26 October.
The American Heritage is a paddlewheel river cruise ship operated by American Cruise Lines, with a capacity of 150 people. The Port of New Orleans said the incident remained active and evolving, and that further updates would be provided as information was confirmed.
Read more on Watan News: Tanker hits docked cruise ship in New Orleans.
