New Orleans tanker collision sends 32 cruise passengers to hospital

All 129 passengers on the American Heritage were accounted for after a New Orleans tanker cruise collision on the Mississippi River, Mayor Helena Moreno said. Thirty-two people were taken to local hospitals, and none had critical injuries, according to the mayor’s Friday evening update reported by Al Jazeera and The Associated Press.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Heritage paddleboat at about 12:30 p.m. local time on November 13, 2026, the Port of New Orleans said. The collision partially submerged the cruise vessel and led to a rescue response involving several agencies.

What happened in the New Orleans tanker cruise collision?

The American Heritage had been docked for roughly two hours and passengers were leaving the vessel when it began taking on water, Moreno said. She said the boat later toppled and overturned, putting people in the river.

Moreno said the tanker lost control before hitting the cruise ship. The cause of the collision has not been established, however, and it was not known whether the tanker was carrying cargo, Al Jazeera reported.

Port police, firefighters, Coast Guard personnel and emergency medical staff responded at the port, where officials established a triage area in the administration building. Vessel traffic on the river was closed during the response, according to Al Jazeera.

American Cruise Lines, the operator of the American Heritage, said its guests and crew had been evacuated. The five-deck boat was concluding an eight-day itinerary serving destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi, according to Al Jazeera’s report.

The Atlantic Asphalt was bound for New Orleans and flew the Marshall Islands flag, according to vessel-tracking information cited by Al Jazeera. Early accounts described people being rescued from the water; the mayor’s later briefing established that every passenger was accounted for.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.