A tanker struck American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage while it was docked at the Port of New Orleans on Friday, tipping the paddlewheel riverboat onto its side. Rescues followed.
A tanker crashed into a docked river cruise boat carrying about 129 passengers in New Orleans on Friday, Nov. 13, tipping the boat onto its side in the Mississippi River.
The tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck American Cruise Lines’ paddlewheel riverboat American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. local time, according to the Port of New Orleans. The riverboat had docked about two hours earlier, and passengers were getting ready to disembark.
Crew members were also on board. The cause of the collision is under investigation.
What happened to the American Heritage riverboat in New Orleans?
The riverboat was tied up along the riverfront outside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, near the French Quarter, when the much larger tanker hit it broadside, ABC News reports.
Video obtained by New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU showed the impact. The riverboat began to list, then rolled onto its side and was partially submerged.
A passenger, Rhonda Akers, told NBC News the tanker struck the boat a second time. She said “it hit us again and we flipped over,” and she had to crawl over a railing to get to safety. She said her husband was taken to the hospital with a head injury.
How many people were hurt in the New Orleans riverboat crash?
Official numbers were still coming together Friday afternoon, and early reports varied.
New Orleans TV station WWL reported that at least eight people were taken to the hospital. WDSU reported that about a dozen people were hospitalized. The Port of New Orleans said the number of injuries had not yet been confirmed.
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser told WWL he had received a text saying everyone was accounted for, though he added “we believe.” WWL also reported that the Creole Queen, a nearby paddlewheel tour boat, pulled 14 people from the water.
No deaths had been reported as of Friday afternoon.
Who responded to the riverboat collision?
Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical crews all responded, according to the Port of New Orleans.
Passengers were taken inside the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, where a triage area was set up. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno’s office said multiple people had been rescued.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was heading to New Orleans, ABC News reports.
What did American Cruise Lines say?
American Cruise Lines confirmed that American Heritage was involved in a collision while docked in New Orleans. The company said it is working closely with the Coast Guard and local authorities.
“Guests and crew were evacuated, and we are deeply concerned for everyone involved,” the company said in a statement to NBC News.
The cruise line said it would share more updates in the coming hours.
What is the American Heritage riverboat?
American Heritage is a five-deck paddlewheel riverboat that sails weeklong cruises on the Mississippi River. American Cruise Lines says the boat was built in 2015 and carries up to 150 guests.
It first sailed as American Eagle and later as Queen of the Mississippi before getting its current name. Trips on the boat typically run several thousand dollars per person, and New Orleans is one of its regular home ports.
What kind of ship was the Atlantic Asphalt?
The Atlantic Asphalt is a tanker built to carry asphalt and bitumen, the thick, tarlike material used for roads and roofing, according to ship tracking site MarineTraffic, as reported by The Hill.
Investigators have not said why the tanker hit the docked riverboat. The Coast Guard typically leads investigations into collisions on the river, often with the National Transportation Safety Board.
This is a developing story. Anyone with family on the American Heritage should watch for updates from American Cruise Lines and the Port of New Orleans.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Port of New Orleans (Nov. 13, 2026), the time, location, vessels, passenger count and response
ABC News (Nov. 13, 2026), the broadside collision and Gov. Jeff Landry
NBC News (Nov. 13, 2026), Rhonda Akers’ account and American Cruise Lines’ statement
WWL-TV (Nov. 13, 2026), the hospital count, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Creole Queen rescues
WDSU (Nov. 13, 2026), the collision video and hospital count
American Cruise Lines, the American Heritage’s history and capacity
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