Rescue efforts under way after tanker strikes river cruise boat in US
A tanker has struck a river cruise boat carrying 129 passengers on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, partially submerging the vessel and prompting a major rescue operation.
The collision occurred at approximately 12:30pm local time (18:30 GMT) on Friday, November 13, 2026. The cruise boat had docked about two hours earlier to begin letting passengers off when it was struck by the much larger tanker. Video from the scene showed the moment of impact as metal and glass crashed and crunched.
Multiple individuals have been rescued from the river, where the water temperature was 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit). More than a dozen people in life jackets were dragged onto nearby ships, while others stood near the railing as the boat listed further into the water.
Emergency Response
Port police, the fire department, the coastguard and emergency medical staff are responding to the incident. A triage area has been set up inside the port's administration building, and the river has been closed to vessel traffic as rescue operations continue.
American Cruise Lines, which operates the five-deck American Heritage built in 2015, confirmed that guests and crew had been evacuated. The company stated it was "deeply concerned for everyone involved." The vessel can hold up to 150 passengers and was finishing an eight-day cruise to destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Investigation Underway
The 160-metre (520-foot) Atlantic Asphalt tanker was flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and was bound for New Orleans. According to Marine Insights, the tanker specializes in carrying asphalt and bitumen. Authorities have not released information on injuries or deaths, and the cause of the collision remains unknown, as does whether the tanker was carrying cargo at the time of impact.
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