A Mississippi River cruise ship carrying roughly 180 to 190 people capsized in New Orleans on Friday after being struck by an asphalt tanker.
The collision unfolded at 12:30 p.m. on November 13, 2026, near the Crescent City Connection bridge. The 160-meter-long tanker Atlantic Asphalt plowed directly into the stationary paddlewheeler American Heritage.
The river vessel was operated by American Cruise Lines and built in 2015. It had been moored at the pier for two hours as passengers disembarked.
Port officials said that the tanker appeared to lose steering control before the impact. The force of the blow caused the cruise ship to rapidly take on water and list sharply to the side.
Crew members helped guide frightened travelers as the vessel submerged. Passengers wore life jackets as they entered the river.
MarineTraffic data showed the tanker was flagged under the Marshall Islands. The International Maritime Organization recorded the vessel as belonging to Nave Shipping SA, registered in Monrovia, Liberia.
The ship hauls asphalt and bitumens. These cargoes are kept at temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Celsius.
Emergency responders converged on the scene to pull struggling passengers from the water. Coast Guard, port police, fire departments, and local tugboats responded.
Port officials said that approximately 87 travelers managed to leave the ship before it fully capsized. City officials later confirmed that between 180 and 190 people were on board.
No fatalities or missing persons were reported from the disaster. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno declared the outcome a miracle on the Mississippi during a press briefing.
Medical transports carried 32 people to area hospitals for treatment. The total included 30 passengers and two police officers who entered the water during the rescue effort.
Authorities said none of the injuries were critical or life-threatening. No children were among the injured.
Survivors were sheltered at a port administration building where emergency personnel administered aid. City agencies and the American Red Cross mobilized to provide displaced tourists with temporary lodging, transportation, and essential medications.
The Coast Guard closed the surrounding stretch of the Mississippi River to commercial traffic. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry pledged a thorough review of regional waterways.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board deployed to examine the mechanical and operational causes of the crash. Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said that the tanker may have experienced a steering failure.
