Cruise Ship Collides with Tanker on Mississippi

GRAND RAPIDS, MI. - The tanker, Atlantic Asphalt, struck the American Cruise Lines riverboat, American Heritage, on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans on Friday, November 13, 2026. The collision occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time while the American Heritage remained docked, causing the vessel to list to its side and partially submerge.

Local and federal authorities launched a significant emergency response, involving the Port NOLA Harbor Police, New Orleans Fire Department, New Orleans Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Rescue teams deployed to the scene as individuals entered the water wearing life jackets or holding onto flotation devices. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated he received briefings regarding the incident and traveled to New Orleans.

The American Heritage docked approximately two hours before the collision to begin passenger disembarkation, carrying roughly 129 passengers and crew members on board. The ship is a 300-foot paddle-wheel vessel built in 2015 and previously known as the Queen of the Mississippi, with a capacity of 150 passengers. The colliding vessel, the Atlantic Asphalt, measures 525 feet and holds registration in the Marshall Islands.

The U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 to facilitate ongoing response operations. Officials continued investigations into the cause of the collision and the total number of injuries as rescue efforts persisted.