November 13, 2026
NEW ORLEANS — A tanker struck a docked river cruise ship on the Mississippi River on Friday, leaving the passenger vessel partially submerged and prompting rescue efforts, The Associated Press reported.
Video shared by Nick Sortor on X shows the tanker approaching and striking the cruise ship.
The Atlantic Asphalt hit the American Heritage, operated by American Cruise Lines, about 12:30 p.m., according to the Port of New Orleans. Port officials said approximately 129 passengers, plus crew members, were aboard, ABC News reported.
The American Heritage was docked outside 1350 Port of New Orleans Place and had arrived about two hours earlier for passengers to disembark, port officials told WVUE. Passengers were taken to the port’s administration building for assistance.
American Cruise Lines said its guests and crew were evacuated and that it was coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities, according to the statement reported by ABC News.
New Orleans officials said multiple people had been rescued. Search-and-rescue operations were continuing in the city’s afternoon update, according to WVUE. Firefighters, police, harbor police, Coast Guard crews and emergency medical personnel responded.
The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96 while crews responded, ABC News reported.
A confirmed injury count and the cause of the collision had not been released in the official updates reviewed by VOTP News STL as of 3:15 p.m. Central on Friday.
Featured image: Video frame from footage shared by Nick Sortor via X.
This is a developing story.
