The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans filed a lawsuit Saturday against the owners and managers of the Atlantic Asphalt tanker after it crashed into a docked river cruise ship Friday, causing significant damage and injuries. A federal judge issued a warrant granting control of the vessel to investigators, who have recovered the tanker’s voyage data recorder—the maritime equivalent of an aircraft’s flight data recorder.
The American Heritage cruise ship, carrying 197 passengers and crew, was struck by the tanker while docked at the Port of New Orleans’ Thalia Street Terminal. The collision left the cruise ship turned on its side and partially submerged, with 32 people hospitalized—including two police officers thrown into the Mississippi River—but no critical injuries or fatalities were reported. All passengers and crew were accounted for, according to officials.
Emergency crews and investigators are assessing the full extent of the damage, which the port estimates at over $1 million. The tanker, owned by a subsidiary of a Chinese company, has been towed away from the crash site, while the cruise ship remains in place pending further recovery efforts. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has deployed a 16-member team to New Orleans, with a preliminary report expected within 30 days and a final investigation report due in 18 to 24 months.
Immediate Aftermath and Response
The collision occurred just before 4:00 p.m. local time Friday, when the tanker lost steering and struck the stationary cruise ship. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that traffic on the Mississippi River has been temporarily restricted but is expected to resume shortly. The first priority is safely removing 16,000 gallons of fuel from the tanker to prevent environmental contamination.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno described the outcome as a “miracle,” noting that all passengers and crew survived despite the severity of the collision. Tamara Carrasco, a passenger on the cruise ship, recounted the moment of impact, saying she saw the tanker approaching and feared for her life as the ship began filling with water. “It hit so hard I flew to the ground,” she told reporters.
Legal and Investigative Actions
The Port of New Orleans’ lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that the tanker and its operating companies—Nave Shipping SA and Thome Ship Management Pte, Ltd.—failed to take necessary precautions to avoid the collision. The lawsuit seeks damages for cleanup, inspections, repairs, and other expenses, and requests that the tanker be seized and sold to cover costs. Neither company has publicly commented on the allegations.
The NTSB’s investigation will focus on the tanker’s voyage data recorder, which captures speed, audio, and other critical data from the bridge. Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham stated that the exact cause of the steering failure remains unknown. The agency has not yet determined whether mechanical failure, human error, or other factors contributed to the incident.
Ongoing Recovery and Safety Measures
The cruise ship remains secured to the terminal, with recovery efforts expected to take weeks due to its precarious position. Authorities have not indicated when normal operations at the port will resume. The NTSB and Coast Guard continue to coordinate with local officials to ensure the safety of both vessels and the surrounding area.
As the investigation progresses, federal and local agencies will work to determine the root cause of the collision and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.