Thirty-two people were hospitalized with noncritical injuries after the American Heritage capsized along the New Orleans riverfront.
NEW ORLEANS, LA — Everyone aboard a Mississippi River cruise boat survived after a tanker struck the docked vessel Friday, causing it to take on water and capsize near the Port of New Orleans as rescuers rushed to pull people from the river.
The collision involved the tanker Atlantic Asphalt and the American Heritage, a paddlewheel river cruise vessel operated by American Cruise Lines. The crash happened about 12:30 p.m. Nov. 13, officials said. The cruise boat had been docked for roughly two hours and passengers were beginning to leave the vessel when the tanker hit it. Officials later said all passengers and crew members had been accounted for, ending an emergency search-and-rescue operation that involved local, state, federal and private responders.
Port officials initially said about 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, were aboard the American Heritage. Officials later put the combined number of passengers and crew at about 180. Thirty-two people were taken to hospitals, but none had critical injuries, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said. Two Harbor Police officers were also hospitalized during the response and were reported to be in good condition. No one aboard the tanker was reported injured.
Officials said the much larger tanker struck the American Heritage while the cruise vessel was secured along the riverfront. As passengers were leaving after the impact, the riverboat began taking on water, then rolled onto its side. Some people entered the Mississippi River before they could be evacuated. Images from the scene showed passengers wearing life jackets in the water and near the partly submerged vessel.
The rescue quickly drew help from Port of New Orleans Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard. Tugboat crews, port workers and other nearby vessels also joined the effort. Rescuers brought people from the river and the damaged boat to safety before officials conducted a final accounting of those who had been aboard.
Moreno said the response ended with no one missing and no reported deaths. The outcome came despite the speed at which conditions changed after the collision. The American Heritage sustained extensive damage and was left largely submerged, with only part of the vessel remaining above the water. The Coast Guard restricted vessel traffic on a section of the Mississippi while emergency operations and an assessment of the damaged vessels continued.
The exact cause of the collision remained under investigation early Saturday. Officials said the Atlantic Asphalt appeared to have experienced a loss of steering before hitting the cruise boat, but authorities had not determined why the apparent steering problem occurred. The Coast Guard cautioned that the cause had not been established and that investigators would examine the circumstances surrounding the tanker’s movements and the collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board was also expected to investigate the crash. Investigators will have to determine what happened aboard the tanker before impact and review the operation of both vessels, along with available recordings, vessel data and other evidence. No final finding on responsibility had been announced.
The American Heritage was operating a Mississippi River cruise, and the collision left passengers dealing with the sudden loss of access to personal belongings. Some travelers lost phones, identification, keys and other possessions when the vessel capsized. Officials and the cruise operator worked to arrange lodging, transportation and other assistance for people displaced by the accident.
By early Saturday, the emergency rescue phase had ended with everyone accounted for. Authorities continued to secure the scene, assess the damaged American Heritage and investigate why the Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked cruise vessel. No fatalities had been reported, and officials said the hospitalized patients did not have critical injuries.
Author note: Last updated November 14, 2026.