At Least 100 People Pulled From Mississippi River After Tanker Strikes Docked Cruise Ship in New Orleans

Roughly 100 people were pulled from the Mississippi River after a tanker struck a docked cruise ship in New Orleans on Friday, officials said Saturday, as the U.S. Coast Guard prepared for a salvage operation that could stretch on for weeks.

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said 191 passengers and crew members were aboard the American Heritage when the Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit the vessel near the Port of New Orleans. The collision occurred around 12:30 p.m. local time, after the cruise ship had been docked for approximately two hours. The vessel began taking on water before overturning.

Everyone aboard survived. Eight people remained hospitalized on Saturday, including two in serious condition, while the other six patients were listed as stable, officials said.

Port of New Orleans Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montro said responders evacuated more than 80 people before the vessel rolled over, while about 100 people ended up in the river. Montro estimated the American Heritage capsized within 30 to 45 minutes of the collision, though she noted the precise timeline remains under investigation. Officials credited life jackets and the rapid response of emergency crews and nearby vessels with preventing any deaths.

Moreno said the American Heritage's captain was injured in the crash but stayed aboard until all passengers and crew were accounted for, making him the last person off the vessel. She said he initially refused medical treatment until he knew where everyone was. "Every moment of the critical time [Friday], he did not want to leave his ship," Moreno said.

Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said crews were preparing to remove 16,000 gallons of fuel from the American Heritage before salvage work can begin. Divers were expected to assess the sunken vessel, and pollution response teams were monitoring the river for leaks. Burnham said no product requiring removal had been observed in the water so far, but she cautioned that hazardous materials could escape during the operation.

"As the mayor said, we're talking weeks, we're not talking days, we're talking weeks. So we're going to do this safely and we're going to make sure that it's done right," Burnham said.

Investigators are looking into a possible steering issue involving the tanker, though the exact cause of the collision remains unknown. "I can say though I do not have any indication that this is terrorism related in any way, shape or form, but again, the investigators will continue to keep working through that," Burnham said. The National Transportation Safety Board began arriving Saturday after travel disruptions delayed its response.

The Atlantic Asphalt has been moved from the collision site, and the Coast Guard has partially reopened the river to two-way traffic, with a 500-foot safety zone remaining around the wreck. American Cruise Lines, which operates the American Heritage, said it is coordinating with local officials to assist displaced passengers as the investigation and recovery continue.