Tanker Hits Riverboat on New Orleans Waterfront, Injuring Passengers
On Friday, an asphalt tanker struck a moored riverboat on the Mississippi on the downtown New Orleans waterfront, causing the passenger vessel to capsize. Rescue and response operations are under way.
Bystander video shows that the Atlantic Asphalt's bow allided with the moored riverboat American Heritage alongside the pier next to New Orleans' convention center, striking the passenger vessel amidships. Footage shows that the tanker then drifted away, allowing American Heritage to flood and list to port, unsupported by Atlantic Asphalt.
About 129 people were on board the riverboat at the time of the incident and evacuations proceeded swiftly. An unspecified number of passengers were injured, and responders used the nearby Port of New Orleans administrative building for mustering and triaging the survivors.
????Terrifying video out of #NewOrleans/#Lousiana. The moments an American heritage passenger cruise ship starts to sink with passengers onboard in the Mississippi River. Early reports suggest at least 12 people in the water. https://t.co/QGjjAT5IyS
— CodeThreeNews (@CodeThreeNews) November 13, 2026
Additional passengers abandoned ship into the water and were pulled from the river by good samaritans, bystander videos show.
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"Our immediate priority is the safety of all passengers, crew members and first responders. This remains an active and evolving incident," the port said in a statement.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as additional information emerges.
