The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the American Cruise Lines' American Heritage at about 12:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, near 1350 Port of New Orleans Place on the New Orleans side of the Mississippi River, close to the Crescent City Connection.

The paddlewheeler had docked roughly two hours earlier and was beginning to disembark passengers when the tanker hit it broadside. The ship quickly took on water, listed, and came to rest on its side in front of the Port NOLA offices.

Between roughly 180 and 190 passengers were aboard, with Port NOLA reporting 192 people on the vessel, along with crew members. Many passengers fell into the frigid river wearing life jackets while others gripped the railing as the boat capsized.

At a 4:11 p.m. news conference, Mayor Helena Moreno confirmed that all crew and passengers had been accounted for with no fatalities, calling it a "miracle on the Mississippi."

Thirty-two people were hospitalized with injuries officials described as non-critical; LCMC Health said University Medical Center New Orleans and its other hospitals received an estimated two dozen patients and were evaluating and treating them.

Two harbor police officers who fell into the water during the evacuation were hospitalized in good condition, according to Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll.

Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, who early in the rescue admitted to ABC News he feared it could be "pretty bad" given river cruises' popularity with seniors, secured 85 hotel rooms for affected passengers.

The response was immediate and layered. Port NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire and Police Departments, Louisiana State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel converged on the dock near the Riverwalk.

"As soon as it was reported, everybody ran to it," Mayor Moreno said, describing how firefighters used ladders over the dock while neighboring boats plucked people from the water.

Passengers were brought into the Port of New Orleans Administration Building, where officials did roll call in the auditorium to locate everyone.

Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said partners who "showed up immediately" made a real difference in the rescue effort, and the Red Cross deployed volunteers offering water, blankets and emotional support.

Every element of the incident — a broadside hit, a capsizing vessel, November water temperatures cold enough that WDSU warned rescuers and survivors faced hypothermia risk, and a passenger base skewed toward older travelers — pointed toward catastrophe.

The American Red Cross noted families were living through a frightening and uncertain time, and the Archdiocese of New Orleans posted an urgent prayer to Stella Maris within minutes of the crash.

Instead, a multi-agency response within minutes of the allision — a moving vessel striking a stationary one — meant that of roughly 190 people aboard, everyone was rescued and no injuries proved critical. President Trump, briefed on the crash, called it incredible that nobody was killed.

The Coast Guard shut the Mississippi to all vessel traffic between mile markers 93 and 96, and Capt. Burnham said the river will likely reopen to single-lane traffic in the coming days as officials work to keep commerce flowing.

Salvage teams are coordinating removal of the disabled vessels, though officials have not said when the American Heritage will be lifted from the crash site.

The Regional Transit Authority has already reopened ferry service, and New Orleans & Company said it is not aware of any other tourism disruptions, while also monitoring how the FAA's nationwide ground stop might complicate passengers' trips home through Louis Armstrong International Airport.

Initial evidence points to trouble handling the tanker rather than anything the docked cruise ship did.

Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll said there "seems to be some kind of loss of steering," and Coast Guard Capt. Burnham told reporters the tanker appeared to suffer some type of steering loss, noting the vessel was being driven by a river pilot, though the exact cause is unknown.

Montroll expects to share findings within a couple of days. The National Transportation Safety Board launched a Go Team expected Saturday morning, and Rep. Steve Scalise noted the FAA ground stop was complicating the team's travel.

The Coast Guard remains the lead investigative agency, and Gov. Jeff Landry pledged a thorough probe so the river stays safe.