River traffic resumed under restrictions Saturday after all passengers and crew were accounted for and 32 people were hospitalized.
NEW ORLEANS — Federal authorities are investigating why a tanker struck a docked river cruise boat on the Mississippi River, capsizing the passenger vessel and sending people into the water before a large rescue operation brought everyone to safety.
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. Friday near the Port of New Orleans. The river cruise boat had been docked for roughly two hours and was beginning to let passengers off when it was hit. About 129 passengers, along with crew members, were aboard. Officials later confirmed that everyone had been accounted for, while 32 people were taken to hospitals with injuries described as noncritical.
The collision left the American Heritage on its side at the dock and temporarily disrupted traffic on one of the nation’s busiest commercial waterways. The Coast Guard closed a section of the lower Mississippi River while rescuers worked and officials assessed the damaged vessel. Ferry operations across the river were also suspended after the crash.
By Saturday morning, the Coast Guard had reopened the river with restrictions near the collision site. A 500-foot safety zone remained in effect, and one-way vessel traffic was being used between river mile markers 95.5 and 96.5. The alternate span near the Crescent City Connection remained closed to vessel traffic as response work continued.
The precise cause of the collision remained under investigation. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said Friday that preliminary information indicated there may have been some type of steering loss aboard the tanker. Authorities have not announced a final determination, and officials cautioned that investigators still need to establish what happened before the impact.
The National Transportation Safety Board was expected to take part in the investigation along with the Coast Guard. Federal investigators will examine the vessels and available records as they work to determine the sequence of events and whether mechanical, operational or other factors contributed to the crash.
The Atlantic Asphalt is substantially larger than the American Heritage. Video of the collision showed the tanker striking the passenger vessel while the riverboat was alongside the dock. The impact caused the American Heritage to take on water and roll onto its side, prompting passengers and crew to evacuate as emergency calls brought responders to the riverfront.
The rescue involved Port of New Orleans Harbor Police, the Coast Guard, city police and firefighters, emergency medical crews, tugboat operators and other workers on or near the river. People in the water were pulled aboard nearby vessels or helped toward shore. Authorities later completed a roll call that confirmed no one remained missing.
American Cruise Lines said it was working with authorities and assisting its guests and crew. Local officials and aid organizations also helped passengers with lodging, transportation, food and other needs after the collision. Some travelers were separated from personal belongings as they left the damaged vessel.
The American Heritage is a paddlewheel river cruise boat used for voyages along the Mississippi River. It was completing a multiday trip involving destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi when the crash occurred. The tanker is used to transport asphalt and related petroleum products, though authorities had not publicly established whether its cargo played any role in Friday’s emergency.
No deaths were reported, and officials said the hospitalized patients did not have critical injuries. With the immediate rescue complete and river traffic moving again under restrictions, attention Saturday turned to the federal investigation and the work required to secure the damaged cruise vessel and fully restore normal navigation through the area.
Author note: Last updated November 14, 2026.