By Sarah Jay · Updated November 14, 2026 · Compiled from reporting by CBS News, ABC News, Fox News, WDSU, Yahoo News/AP and IBTimes, cross-checked against each other. Nothing here is sponsored.
In the New Orleans cruise ship crash on Friday, Nov. 13, the tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the docked river cruise boat American Heritage on the Mississippi River at about 12:30 p.m. local time, and the riverboat capsized. Everyone aboard was accounted for, no deaths were reported, and 32 people were taken to hospitals with non-critical injuries, according to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno.
The cause isn’t known yet. The Coast Guard says the tanker appears to have lost steering, and the National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to investigate.
What happened at the Port of New Orleans
The American Heritage, a paddlewheel riverboat run by American Cruise Lines, had tied up outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place about two hours before the crash so passengers could get off, according to Port NOLA as reported by WDSU. That spot sits just below the Crescent City Connection bridge.
Then the much larger tanker came in.
Video aired by local stations shows the Atlantic Asphalt pushing into the side of the docked boat. Moreno told reporters the tanker “lost control and collided into the cruise ship,” ABC News reported. Within minutes the riverboat began listing, then rolled over, with only a small part still above the waterline afterward, Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said.
People ended up in the river. WDSU counted at least 12 in the water during the rescue, and the Associated Press reported that more than a dozen people in life jackets were pulled from the roughly 66-degree water onto nearby vessels. Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, New Orleans police, the Coast Guard and boats already on the river all took part.
New Orleans Police Chief Melanie Montroll said two officers she’d sent aboard to start the evacuation were still on the boat when it began taking on water. Both were later hospitalized, according to Fox News, which described them as Harbor Police officers in good condition.
Key details: the two vessels and the people aboard
The American Heritage is a 2015-built paddlewheeler about 300 feet long that carries up to 150 passengers, according to American Cruise Lines’ website as cited by Yahoo News. The company calls itself the largest U.S. river and small-ship cruise line.
The Atlantic Asphalt is a tanker of roughly 520 feet that carries asphalt and bitumen, the material used in road paving and roofing, AP reported. MarineTraffic data cited by Yahoo News lists it under the Marshall Islands flag.
Ownership is murkier. IBTimes, citing U.S. Coast Guard vessel records, says the registered owner is Nave Shipping SA of Monrovia, Liberia. Some reports drawing on MarineTraffic data describe that company as a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a state-owned group. That link hasn’t been confirmed by officials, and the corporation hadn’t commented as of Friday afternoon, according to IBTimes.
The head count is the one area where official figures don’t line up yet:
- Port of New Orleans officials first said about 129 passengers were aboard, plus crew (WDSU, CBS News via WWL-TV).
- Moreno later estimated 180 to 190 people on the boat (Fox News).
- ABC News reported officials putting the total near 200, with no children aboard.
The difference most likely comes down to whether crew are included, but no agency has published a final passenger and crew breakdown.
Injury reports differ slightly too. Moreno said 32 people went to hospitals with non-critical injuries. ABC News described that group as 30 passengers and two officers who ended up in the water, while Fox News reported 32 passengers plus the two officers. No injuries were reported on the tanker.
What officials and the cruise line are saying
Moreno said there were “zero people unaccounted for,” calling it “a miracle on the Mississippi.” Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry used nearly the same words, telling reporters it was “a literal miracle on the Mississippi” and “we got everybody.” He also said officials would “get down to the bottom of exactly what happened here.”
Burnham, the Coast Guard captain, was more cautious about cause. She said the tanker appeared to have suffered “some type of loss of steering” but that officials don’t yet know why. The Coast Guard has ended search and rescue.
American Cruise Lines said it was “deeply concerned” for everyone involved, that guests and crew had been evacuated, and that it was grateful to the Coast Guard, its crew and local responders. Passengers are being placed in hotels, ABC News reported.
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser said he was worried because the boat is popular with older travelers, according to Yahoo News. Many passengers lost ID, car keys and other belongings when the boat went over, IBTimes reported, and Landry said the state would look at ground transportation home for those who can’t fly.
Federal officials weighed in as well. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said no one had been lost, and President Trump thanked the Coast Guard and said nobody was killed, Yahoo News reported.
Timeline of the New Orleans cruise ship crash
- Late Friday morning: The American Heritage docks about two hours before the crash to begin disembarking passengers, per Port NOLA.
- About 12:30 p.m.: The Atlantic Asphalt strikes the docked riverboat.
- Minutes later, the riverboat lists and capsizes while passengers are still leaving; people go into the river.
- Friday afternoon: Uninjured passengers are taken to a nearby auditorium for a roll call by cruise line staff; 32 people go to hospitals.
- Friday evening: Officials say everyone is accounted for. The NTSB says its team’s arrival is delayed by the FAA’s nationwide ground stop.
- Saturday morning: NTSB investigators expected on scene.
What happens next
The NTSB has launched a “Go Team,” with board member John DeLeeuw as its on-site spokesperson, Fox News reported. Rep. Troy Carter said the FAA ground stop on Friday, caused by communications problems at regional air traffic control centers according to AP, initially kept investigators from flying in. Mullin said the ground stop wasn’t connected to the collision. It was lifted shortly before 9 p.m. Eastern.
Investigators will look at the tanker’s steering and the moments before impact.
River traffic is also affected. The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi to all vessels between mile markers 93 and 96 while crews work the scene, ABC News reported, and Burnham said the agency would decide how and when to reopen it. No fuel or cargo spill had been reported in the coverage reviewed for this story.
Salvage of the overturned riverboat hasn’t been detailed publicly.
Why it matters
The Port of New Orleans sits on one of the busiest commercial stretches of river in the country, and cruise boats, cargo ships and tankers share it daily. A closure there, even a short one, backs up shipping.
Martin Davies, a maritime law expert at Tulane University, told AP the footage suggested a potentially catastrophic failure of the tanker’s systems, though he said it was too early to know. He noted the tanker had already cleared the tricky Algiers Point bend and was moving slowly upriver against the current. In my view, that’s the question investigators will have to answer first: why a ship moving that slowly, past the hardest turn, couldn’t steer clear of a moored boat.
The ownership question could also draw attention in Washington if the reported Chinese state link holds up. For now it’s a reported connection, not an official finding.
For more on how transportation emergencies are investigated, see our earlier coverage of United Airlines Flight UA770’s emergency diversion and British Airways emergency flight BA286, or browse the latest in our News section.
FAQ
What happened in the New Orleans cruise ship crash?
On Nov. 13, 2026, the tanker Atlantic Asphalt hit the docked river cruise boat American Heritage on the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans around 12:30 p.m. The riverboat capsized while passengers were getting off. Officials said everyone was accounted for.
Did anyone die when the tanker hit the cruise ship?
No deaths were reported. Mayor Helena Moreno said 32 people were hospitalized with non-critical injuries and no one was unaccounted for. Police Chief Melanie Montroll said there were no fatalities or critical injuries.
What caused the tanker to hit the American Heritage?
The cause is under investigation. Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said the tanker appeared to have some type of loss of steering, but officials don’t know why. The NTSB is leading the investigation.
How many people were on the American Heritage?
Figures vary. Port officials first reported about 129 passengers, while Moreno later estimated 180 to 190 people aboard, and ABC News reported nearly 200. The higher numbers likely include crew, but no final count has been released.
Who owns the Atlantic Asphalt tanker?
Coast Guard records cited by IBTimes list the owner as Nave Shipping SA, registered in Monrovia, Liberia. Some reports say that firm is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, but officials haven’t confirmed it.
Is the Mississippi River closed in New Orleans?
The Coast Guard closed the river to vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 after the crash, according to ABC News. The agency said it would evaluate when to reopen the waterway.
Sources: CBS News · ABC News · Fox News · WDSU · Yahoo News · IBTimes
This story is developing and will be updated as investigators release findings.
Sources and Editorial Notes
Elivestory aims to use relevant sources, separate confirmed information from speculation and update important details when reliable new information becomes available.
Sarah Jay
Sarah Jay is a journalist, fact-checker, and writer who creates well-researched articles using information from credible and trusted sources. She combines verified facts with thoughtful analysis, offering readers clear, balanced, and insightful perspectives on the topics she covers.
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