A tanker ship slammed into a docked river cruise boat in New Orleans on Friday, November 13, 2026.
The boat, called the American Heritage, tipped onto its side in the Mississippi River.
Officials say everyone aboard has now been accounted for. No deaths have been reported so far.
For travellers and families, this shows how quickly a river accident can turn serious.
The American Heritage is a cruise boat run by American Cruise Lines.
It was built in 2015, has five stories, and can carry up to 150 passengers.
The tanker, named the Atlantic Asphalt, is much larger.
The Port of New Orleans said it hit the cruise boat at about 12:30 p.m. local time, while the boat was docked.
Key points
- A tanker hit the docked American Heritage cruise boat in New Orleans on Friday.
- The boat tipped over, but officials say everyone aboard is accounted for.
- 32 people were taken to hospital, and none have critical injuries.
- The cause is under investigation, and a US safety board is sending a team.
So what exactly happened on the river?
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said the tanker lost control and crashed into the cruise boat.
The Coast Guard said the tanker seemed to have some loss of steering.
Passengers were leaving the boat when it started to sink. It then toppled over, and people ended up in the water.
Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said the exact reason is not yet known. Investigators are still working on the scene.
How are the passengers doing now?
The Port of New Orleans said about 129 passengers were aboard, plus crew members.
Mayor Moreno said 32 passengers were taken to hospitals, and none had critical injuries.
Two harbour police officers were also hospitalised. They are in good condition.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Nearby boats and private vessels helped pull people from the water.
Passengers who were not hurt were taken to an auditorium, where cruise staff did a roll call.
Many people lost their IDs and car keys. Most were from out of town, and some needed phone chargers.
If someone you love was on that trip, making sure they are safe is the first worry.
What happens next with the investigation?
Coast Guard investigators are on the scene. They are working to find out why the tanker lost control.
The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, said it is sending a "Go Team" on Saturday to begin its own investigation into the cause.
Board members could not reach New Orleans at first.
All flights across the country were grounded because of communication problems at air traffic control centres.
The river is closed for now. The Coast Guard says it is working to reopen it as soon as possible.
Sources
- Oneindia: New Orleans River Cruise Ship Collision: All Passengers Survive on Mississippi River After Tanker Crash
- The Hindu BusinessLine: Tanker collides with cruise ship on Mississippi River in New Orleans; rescue operations underway
- CBS News: River cruise ship, tanker crash in New Orleans on Mississippi River; passengers rescued
