Tanker hits American Heritage cruise ship in New Orleans

32 hospitalized as rescue operation concludes

A total of 32 people were transported to hospitals for treatment following the collision. Officials confirmed that none of the injuries were critical.

All 180 passengers and crew members aboard the American Heritage were accounted for, and all survived the incident.

Rescue personnel pulled dozens of individuals from the 66°F water onto nearby vessels.

Investigators probe potential steering failure

Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said the tanker appeared to lose steering before striking the cruise ship. She confirmed that the search and rescue operation has ended, and investigators are currently examining an apparent loss of steering as a potential cause for the crash.

Burnham stated the tanker appeared to have experienced a steering failure or lost control, though the exact cause remains under investigation. The Atlantic Asphalt appeared to experience a loss of steering before hitting the paddleboat around midday.

Maritime law expert Martin Davies of Tulane University said videos indicate a catastrophic system failure on the vessel.

Mayor Moreno declares miracle on the Mississippi

New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry both referred to the survival of all aboard as "a miracle on the Mississippi". Moreno credited the swift response of local, state, and federal personnel and bystanders for preventing any loss of life.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry stated that President Donald Trump called to offer assistance.

Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.) posted on X offering prayers for the passengers and first responders involved in the New Orleans boat crash. NOLA Ready, the emergency preparedness agency for New Orleans, requested that the public stay away from the crash site to allow responders to work.

Support provided for displaced cruise passengers

Reports on the number of people aboard the American Heritage vary, with estimates ranging from 129 to 190 passengers and crew members.

Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll stated that approximately 87 passengers had already disembarked from the American Heritage before the vessel capsized. Mayor Moreno said that people who were not injured were taken to a nearby auditorium, and cruise officials conducted a roll call to ensure everyone was accounted for.

Many passengers lost IDs and car keys; most were from out of town and needed phone chargers, food, hotel rooms and transportation to contact their families. An 11-night Caribbean cruise was canceled after the Coast Guard detained the ship.

Vessel ownership and technical specifications

The American Heritage is a 520-foot ship built in 2015. It has five stories and a capacity of 150 passengers. The vessel sails under a Marshall Islands flag.

The tanker involved is also 520 feet long and flies the Marshall Islands flag. It specializes in carrying asphalt and bitumen for road construction and roofing.

Nave Shipping SA, a company registered in Monrovia, Liberia, owns the tanker.

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Friday afternoon. In April 2025, the US Trade Representative implemented port fees on Chinese-built and operated ships, citing China's attempt to dominate the maritime and shipbuilding sectors.

NTSB investigation and river closure

The US Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River between mile markers 93 and 96 to facilitate rescue and investigation efforts.

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators to examine the cause of the accident at coordinates 29.9347756, -90.0612545.

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to the scene by ground instead of flying a board member due to these residual flight disruptions.

Clear weather conditions during collision

Weather conditions were clear at the time of the collision. Temperatures reached the upper 60s Fahrenheit, with water temperatures at 66 degrees. North winds blew at 8 to 12 mph, with gusts reaching 15 to 17 mph.

Rescuers pulled dozens of people and at least two police officers from the 66-degree water onto nearby ships.