A "Miracle On The Mississippi" Took Place In The U.S.
- 14.11.2026, 14:07
On Friday the 13th, a tanker rammed a cruise ship.
In New Orleans, on the Mississippi River, a tanker collided with a moored cruise ship. As a result of the collision, the ship capsized and sank, and dozens of people ended up in the water.
This was reported by Reuters.
The accident occurred around noon on Friday, November 13. According to New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, the tanker Atlantic Asphalt lost control and crashed into the paddlewheel steamboat American Heritage, which was docked at the pier.
After the collision, the cruise ship began to sink and subsequently capsized. Passengers tried to evacuate as quickly as possible, and some of them ended up in the water.
Port workers, firefighters, and other emergency services quickly arrived at the scene of the accident. Passersby and witnesses from other ships joined in the rescue efforts.
Moreno called the incident a “miracle on the Mississippi.” According to her, everyone on board was found. At the same time, 32 passengers were hospitalized. According to preliminary reports, none of them sustained serious injuries.
At the time of the accident, there were approximately 180–190 passengers and crew members on the American Heritage. However, according to information on the American Cruise Lines website, the ship is rated for 150 passengers. It was built in 2015.
According to Port Police Chief Melanie Montroll, about 87 passengers managed to disembark before the ship capsized.
What is known about the causes of the accident
Following the collision, the U.S. Coast Guard halted all vessel traffic in the area of the accident. The causes of the incident are under investigation.
Coast Guard Captain Melanie Bernham suggested that a steering system malfunction may have occurred on the tanker. However, no final conclusions regarding the circumstances of the collision have been reached yet.
American Cruise Lines stated that it is cooperating with the Coast Guard and local authorities. The company confirmed that passengers and crew members had been evacuated and expressed concern over the accident.
U.S. President Donald Trump also responded to the incident. In a post on Truth Social, he thanked the Coast Guard, law enforcement, and emergency services for their work during the rescue operation.
“We also want to note that all law enforcement agencies and emergency services did an excellent job! Surprisingly, no one died as a result of this massive collision. Thirty-two people are in the hospital,” he wrote.