New Orleans River Incident: Tanker Collision Leads to Lawsuit and Investigations
In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, a tanker in New Orleans lost control and collided with a docked river cruise boat, prompting immediate legal action from the city’s port authority to secure the vessel for federal investigation. The tanker is owned by a subsidiary of a Chinese corporation.
All 197 passengers and crew aboard the American Heritage cruise ship were reported safe, alongside the crew of the tanker involved. However, 32 individuals, including two police officers who were thrown into the Mississippi River during the incident, were treated at local hospitals. Fortunately, none sustained critical injuries, though eight remained hospitalized as of Saturday.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the voyage data recorder from the tanker has been retrieved. This device, which is akin to an aircraft’s black box, records crucial details such as the vessel’s speed and audio communications from the bridge.
NTSB member John DeLeeuw announced that a preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with a comprehensive investigation report anticipated in 18 to 24 months. A 16-member investigative team is scheduled to spend a week in New Orleans to examine the incident.
Damage Assessment and Legal Actions
The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans filed a lawsuit alleging that the Atlantic Asphalt tanker inflicted damage exceeding $1 million on the terminal. A federal judge has since authorized officials to take control of the tanker.
While the tanker has been towed from the collision site, the removal of the cruise ship, which remains capsized against the terminal, may take several weeks, according to Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham.
It could take weeks to move the cruise ship, which remains turned on its side against a terminal in the Mississippi River. (Matthew Hinton/The Associated Press)
Initial efforts are focused on the safe removal of approximately 60,500 liters of fuel from the ship. While traffic on the Mississippi River is currently restricted, Capt. Burnham indicated that navigation should resume shortly.
Eyewitness Accounts: A Close Call
Passengers aboard the American Heritage experienced chaos as the tanker blasted its horn while approaching. According to passenger Joe Knab, the vessel struck with such force that it began to tilt. The crew attempted to evacuate those on board, but the ship suddenly rolled, sending Knab and around 100 others into the river.
First responders, tugboat operators, and police acted swiftly to rescue those in the water. “It was a little scary at the time. I thought I was drowning,” Knab recounted. He mentioned he remained submerged for about 15 minutes before being rescued.
People are helped out of the water by responders on Friday. Dozens were hospitalized but none of the injuries were deemed critical. (Devon Flanagan/The Associated Press)
Knab credited his navy experience for helping him remain calm during the ordeal. “They taught us not to drown,” he stated, expressing gratitude for the life vests provided to passengers, which likely contributed to many surviving the situation.
The Tanker’s Background
The Atlantic Asphalt, measuring 160 meters in length, was en route to New Orleans and operates under the Marshall Islands flag. Its ownership is attributed to Nave Shipping SA, registered in Monrovia, Liberia, and part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a prominent Chinese state-owned entity. An inquiry directed to the corporation went unanswered.
The tanker is designed for transporting significant amounts of asphalt and bitumen, commonly used in road construction and roofing, according to shipping sources.
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