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World

All aboard survive as tanker collision sinks river cruise boat in New Orleans

2026-11-15

Mississippi River at Pine Bend Bluff, photographed in2007; illustrative river landscape, not the New Orleans collision site.

A tanker ship that apparently lost its steering slammed into a docked luxury paddle wheeler on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday, causing the cruise vessel to roll over and sink as passengers scrambled to disembark and dozens were flung into the water. All aboard the stricken boat survived, and 32 were taken to hospital with no critical injuries, according to Mayor Helena Moreno, after a massive rescue by harbor personnel, tugboat operators, firefighters, police and onlookers.

Video from the scene showed the much larger tanker, the Atlantic Asphalt, hitting the American Heritage riverboat while it was docked, as metal and glass crashed and crunched. The cruise vessel took on water and began to topple over as passengers and crew plunged into the river. Tugboat operators, nearby workers, police and other rescuers rushed to pull them to safety, and everyone aboard was accounted for, Mayor Helena Moreno told a press conference, hailing the outcome as a miracle on the Mississippi.

Federal investigators dispatched

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is launching a specialist Go Team to investigate the collision between the tank ship and the riverboat-style passenger vessel, with investigators expected at the scene on Saturday. The investigation is in its early stages, and officials have not yet said why the tanker lost control. The riverboat was docked at the time of the impact.

The accident happened around midday. The mayor estimated that about 180 to 190 passengers and crew were aboard, while another account put the number at 180. About 87 passengers disembarked before the vessel capsized, Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll said. The Coast Guard closed river traffic near the accident. American Cruise Lines said guests and crew had been evacuated, expressed concern for everyone involved and said it was working with the Coast Guard and local authorities. The operator lists the American Heritage as built in 2015 with capacity for150 passengers, separate from crew.

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