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U.S. Coast Guard photo.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
NEW ORLEANS, La. — A Mississippi River cruise ship operated by American Cruise Lines, the same company that brought the American Patriot to Ludington twice this summer, capsized Friday, Nov. 13, after being struck by a tanker while docked in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The American Heritage, a paddlewheel riverboat carrying 129 passengers and approximately 50 crew members, was struck by the tanker Atlantic Asphalt at about 12:30 p.m. near the Port of New Orleans administration building on the Mississippi River.
The impact caused the five-deck passenger vessel to take on water, roll onto its side and become partially submerged. Passengers and crew members were forced to evacuate, with some entering the river as the vessel capsized.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said all passengers and crew members were accounted for following a major rescue operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard, harbor police, firefighters, tugboat crews and other emergency responders.
Thirty-two people were transported to hospitals with injuries that officials said were not life-threatening. No fatalities were reported.
The tanker reportedly experienced a loss of steering before striking the stationary cruise ship. The U.S. Coast Guard said the exact cause of the collision had not been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating.
American Heritage. American Cruise Lines image.
American Cruise Lines confirmed the collision and said it was coordinating with federal and local authorities while assisting affected passengers and crew members.
The incident has a connection to Ludington through American Cruise Lines, which began operating Great Lakes cruises earlier this year.
The company’s American Patriot made its first scheduled visit to Ludington on Aug. 7, followed by a second visit on Aug. 14. Both visits brought approximately 130 passengers to the community, where they explored downtown businesses and participated in organized excursions throughout Mason County.
Although the American Heritage and American Patriot are operated by the same company, they are two distinctly different types of passenger vessels.
The American Heritage was built in 2015 and is designed for inland river cruising, particularly along the Mississippi River. The vessel has accommodations for 150 passengers and features a traditional paddlewheel riverboat appearance, multiple passenger decks, lounges and a dining room.
The American Patriot, built in 2025 at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, is the lead vessel of American Cruise Lines’ newer Patriot class. Measuring approximately 243 feet long, the vessel accommodates 130 passengers and was designed for coastal and Great Lakes cruising.
Unlike the American Heritage, the American Patriot does not have a paddlewheel. It features a modern hull designed for operation in larger bodies of water, stabilizers, private balconies for passenger accommodations and observation areas overlooking the water.
The American Patriot was the vessel selected to launch American Cruise Lines’ Great Lakes operations in 2026, with three domestic itineraries operating between May and August.
Its Ludington visits marked the city’s first scheduled Great Lakes cruise ship calls and represented an effort by local tourism officials to establish Ludington as a regular stop for passenger cruise vessels.
During its first visit, passengers traveled to attractions including the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Historic White Pine Village, Ludington State Park, Silver Lake Sand Dunes and Amber Elk Ranch. Others spent time shopping and dining downtown.
American Patriot with SS Badger on Aug. 14, 2026. MCP/Rob Alway photo.
The visits also demonstrated that the American Patriot could safely share Ludington harbor with the SS Badger.
During the Aug. 7 visit, the American Patriot remained docked along the west seawall at Waterfront Park while the Badger entered the harbor and completed its docking maneuver. The cruise ship departed after the carferry was secured at its dock.
The maneuver had been a concern when the cruise ship visits were initially planned, but adequate clearance between the two vessels allowed both to operate in the harbor without incident.
The American Patriot returned the following Friday, Aug. 14, arriving approximately 30 minutes after the Badger entered the harbor.
American Cruise Lines, headquartered in Guilford, Connecticut, operates a fleet of small cruise ships and riverboats serving destinations throughout the United States, including the Mississippi River, East Coast, Alaska and Great Lakes.
The American Heritage was completing an eight-day Mississippi River cruise when the collision occurred. It had arrived at the New Orleans dock approximately two hours before being struck.
As of Saturday morning, Nov. 14, the cause of the collision remained under investigation.
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