Tanker Strikes Docked American Heritage Cruise Boat on Mississippi River in New Orleans

A tanker, the Atlantic Asphalt, struck the docked American Cruise Lines paddlewheel boat American Heritage on the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans around 12:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, leaving the vessel on its side and largely submerged. Port officials said about 129 passengers were aboard, in addition to crew. The port said the boat had been docked about two hours to begin disembarking passengers. Nearby boats rescued more than a dozen people from the water, and CBS reported at least 14 rescued. The New Orleans Fire Department said search-and-rescue operations were continuing. The Coast Guard said it responded and closed all river traffic nearby. Port officials said injuries and the cause were unconfirmed, and no deaths or injuries had been reported. An emergency response source said the tanker may have lost power. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said he was headed to New Orleans. American Cruise Lines confirmed its riverboat was involved in a collision.

The right-leaning Daily Mail leads with the capsizing and the dramatic imagery: passengers gripping railings, screams, and police running along the dock. Fox News uses stronger verbs ("slammed") but relies on the port's statement and the fire department's update, and stresses that the cause and injuries are unconfirmed. Fox leaves out the power-loss possibility and the governor's remarks. The left-leaning Guardian US and CBS News use plainer headlines about a collision and rescues. The Guardian cites a port official and an emergency source on the possible power loss, and CBS adds Landry's quote and the rescue count. Both sides agree on the ship, the tanker, the roughly 129 passengers and the ongoing rescues. They differ in tone and in which sources they feature. The Hindu adds the Coast Guard statement and the ship's capacity.