Tanker Crashes Into Ship Near New Orleans,

UPDATE [6:38 PM ET]: President Donald Trump has reacted to the Port of New Orleans collision, with a assertion shared in a post on Truth Social on Friday night

https://t.co/BmM51t4KtA

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 13, 2026

unique story

On Friday, the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans was the scene of a collision between an Atlantic Asphalt tanker and a docked river cruise ship owned by American Cruise Lines. 

First, bother in the sky; now, bother in the water. 

A tanker collided with a docked cruise ship carrying about 129 passengers on the Mississippi River Friday, main to a large rescue operation.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker hit American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage around 12:30 p.m. outdoors the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, Port NOLA told The Post.

Harrowing footage from the scene confirmed the cruise ship practically horizontal in the river. Some people have been seen in the river carrying life jackets and utilizing life rings, while others appeared to cling to the vessel’s railings.

WATCH:

Watch the second a tanker struck a cruise ship in New Orleans. Rescues are underway. 📷: Kern Studios https://t.co/ZPspGtM0Yr https://t.co/O1qGr8kImf

— wdsu (@wdsu) November 13, 2026

Rescue operations have been rapidly mounted by the Port of New Orleans Harbor Police, the New Orleans (NO) Fire Department, the NO Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard, with emergency medical personnel on scene. In a press convention with New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, the NO Fire Department, and law enforcement officers, all passengers and crew have been accounted for. Over 30 people have been injured and transported to the hospital for medical consideration. 

“At this moment, the information that we have, we have zero people unaccounted for, which truly is a miracle on the Mississippi, and that is a credit to all of the first responders, local, state, federal, who literally jumped right in to help,” she said.

According to Fox News:

University Medical Center New Orleans and other LCMC Health hospitals acquired an estimated two dozen sufferers following the incident, LCMC Health said in a assertion. Medical groups have been evaluating sufferers and offering care while coordinating with emergency responders. 

According to Mayor Moreno, while the vessel was still capsized in the water, search and rescue was ready to get the first 87 people from the vessel. Multiple rescue vessels have been deployed to retrieve the remaining passengers from the water. 

Gov. Landry said he spoke immediately with President Donald Trump, and spoke twice to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Landry said the president told him he would have, “whatever they needed.” DHS Secretary Mullin also confirmed that whatever sources could be needed, DHS would make them out there.

The @USCG is supporting the state of Louisiana and our local companions in responding to a vessel collision close to mile marker 96 on the Mississippi River. We are throwing every asset we’ve to help rescue lacking passengers. @DHSgov is coordinating intently with the state of Louisiana. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this horrible tragedy.

— Secretary Markwayne Mullin (@SecMullinDHS) November 13, 2026

The @USCG is supporting the state of Louisiana and our local companions in responding to a vessel collision close to mile marker 96 on the Mississippi River. We are throwing every asset we’ve to help rescue lacking passengers. 

@DHSgov is coordinating intently with the state of Louisiana. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this horrible tragedy.

Republican Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-01) was also at the press convention and confirmed there could be a National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the crash. Scalise praised the “incredible work of all of our first responders. We are blessed to have people who are ready to mobilize immediately to save lives.”

During the rescue operation, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser spoke with ABC News about the scenario, and confirmed that the ship is a river cruise touring ship, not a cruise liner and would possibly include largely aged passengers. 

Nungesser said:

You know, I worry the worst because there have been so many aged people on that boat. And even getting to the dock or to the exit where they may leap off the boat when that factor began lisping could be very troublesome. Those river cruises sometimes have a lot of aged people on ’em that cruise up the Mississippi River. Those will not be the vessels that exit to sea. Those are the river cruises that cruise up the Mississippi River [and] always have a lot of aged people. So, I worry that it may very well be fairly dangerous, We’re hoping everybody acquired off. But just by the quantity of people I’m listening to they’re pulling out of the water, a dozen right here, three right here, having over 100 passengers on that boat, I’m actually fearful that many did not make it off. And we do not know something for sure, but we’re sure praying that they did.

LISTEN:

Louisiana Lt. Governor told ABC News’ Kyra Phillips that he’s “fearful that many didn’t make it off” the boat after a tanker collided with a docked riverboat carrying 129 passengers on the Mississippi River close to the Port of New Orleans, officers said. https://t.co/Xwy24fE0QV https://t.co/ES5vtSZMFf

— ABC News (@ABC) November 13, 2026

The United Cajun Navy, which was also docked at the Port of New Orleans for a non-rescue event, monitored the scenario and have been on standby ought to their help have been required. 

The @Unitedcajunnavy is on standby at the Port of New Orleans following a ship collision. We are being told that all 150 passengers are accounted for, we hope that news holds. 🙏 https://t.co/4sBTszEjBw

— United Cajun Navy (@Unitedcajunnavy) November 13, 2026

This is a developing story. RedState will present updates as warranted.

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