New Orleans port officials have filed a lawsuit seeking control of the 520-foot Atlantic Asphalt tanker after it lost steering and collided with the docked American Heritage cruise ship on Friday.
The crash caused approximately $1 million in damage to the terminal, prompting a federal warrant for the vessel. Just hours after the collision, the city’s port sued to ensure federal investigators could seize the vessel, which is owned by a subsidiary of a Chinese company.
The collision, which occurred shortly after midday, resulted in the cruise ship capsizing in the Mississippi River. While all 197 passengers and crew on the American Heritage were rescued, alongside the crew of the tanker, 32 individuals were transported to local hospitals, with eight remaining hospitalized on Saturday. Among those injured were two police officers thrown into the river when the boat rolled.
Federal Authorities Seize Tanker for NTSB Investigation
The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans initiated the legal action to ensure federal investigators could seize and examine the tanker. According to ITV News, a judge issued a warrant on Friday granting federal authorities temporary control of the ship. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since launched an investigation to determine how the vessel, which flies the Marshall Islands flag, lost steering.
NOLAREADY:RTA ferry service across the Mississippi River is temporarily suspended as a precaution after a collision involving two vessels. Plan alternate routes
The tanker is owned by Nave Shipping SA, a company registered in Monrovia, Liberia. According to data from MarineTraffic, Nave Shipping is a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a state-owned conglomerate. The vessel specializes in transporting asphalt and bitumen. The China State Shipbuilding Corporation has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the incident.
Passenger Joe Knab described the moments before the impact to WDSU-TV, noting that the tanker sounded its horn repeatedly as it drifted toward the American Heritage. The sudden collision caused the cruise ship to lean immediately. New Orleans Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll credited the survival of those on board to the rapid deployment of life vests, which allowed passengers to float until they were recovered by rescue teams.
“Whether it’s 10 feet of water or 200 feet, having those vests, having that population put those vests on and kind of float upriver while we retrieve them — I think was the best factor of success,” Montroll said. Police Chief Melanie Montroll
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Atlantic Asphalt |
| Registered Owner | Nave Shipping SA (Liberia) |
| Parent Conglomerate | China State Shipbuilding Corporation |
| Reported Damages | $1 million (Port terminal) |
FAA Ground Stop Impacts Collision Scene and Travel
The American Heritage had been nearing the end of an eight-day river cruise. As the vessel remains half-submerged, officials have indicated that the removal process will take several weeks, according to reports from Axios. The legal proceedings to secure the tanker initiate a lawsuit, as authorities work to control the vessel following a crash involving the Port of New Orleans.
“The tanker appeared to lose steering, but the exact cause of the crash is not known,” Burnham said regarding the ongoing federal inquiry.
Earlier this afternoon a tanker hit a cruise ship along the Mississippi River in New Orleans. The cruise ship took on water and eventually flipped. Because of the heroic work of our first responders ALL PASSENGERS have been accounted for. This is nothing short of a miracle.… pic.twitter.com/dol1SsaRcN
More on Mississippi River
I am devastated to hear about the ships crashing near the Port of New Orleans. I am monitoring the situation closely and praying for the swift rescue of survivors and for all emergency crews responding to the situation.https://t.co/igj4ViRvGX
UPDATE: All individuals involved in today's vessel collision on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans have been accounted for, with no reported fatalities or critical injuries. For the latest information read the City's full press release at https://t.co/peElpWszmQ pic.twitter.com/jwRPeACPMv
