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Tanker Colludes With Cruiser in Mississippi River Crash, Prompts $1 Million Port Suit

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A federal judge authorized the seizure of the Atlantic Asphalt after the Port of New Orleans alleged that the tanker caused at least $1 million in terminal damage when it struck a docked cruise boat on the Mississippi River. Federal investigators have recovered the tanker’s voyage data recorder. Across the river from where the tanker was towed, the capsized American Heritage still holds an estimated 16,000 gallons of fuel that the Coast Guard plans to remove before the wreck can be moved.

Roughly 100 Pulled From Mississippi River

Everyone aboard both vessels survived Friday’s collision. Officials said 32 people were taken to hospitals, including two harbor police officers who went into the river when the cruise boat rolled. Eight remained hospitalized Saturday. The port initially reported about 129 passengers aboard, plus crew. Later accounts differed on the combined total. Mayor Helena Moreno put it at 191, while The Associated Press reported 197.

The port’s board filed suit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, naming the tanker, owner Nave Shipping SA and manager Thome Ship Management as defendants. The complaint alleges negligence and seeks compensation for repairs to the Thalia Street Terminal, cleanup and inspections. The court warrant gave federal authorities temporary control of the tanker while investigators worked to determine what happened.

Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said the tanker appeared to experience “some type of loss of steering” before impact. Investigators have yet to establish the cause. The recovered recorder captures the ship’s speed and audio from its bridge, giving investigators evidence to compare with crew accounts. National Transportation Safety Board member John DeLeeuw said a 16-member team would spend about a week in New Orleans. He expects a preliminary report within 30 days and a final report in 18 to 24 months.

The tanker struck at about 12:30 p.m. Friday. The American Heritage had been docked for about two hours and was finishing an eight-day Mississippi River cruise. About 87 people got off immediately after the impact, Moreno said. The riverboat then began to topple, sending passengers and crew into the water. Roughly 100 people were pulled from the river as tugboat operators, police and others rushed to help. “We have zero people unaccounted for,” Moreno said Friday.

Asphalt Tanker Built in 2017

Passenger Joe Knab told WDSU that he heard the tanker sound its horn before impact. He estimated that he spent 15 minutes in the river. “I thought I was drowning because I kept bobbing underneath,” he said. Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll credited the crew’s decision to put passengers in life jackets before the boat rolled, saying the flotation helped rescuers reach people in the water.

American Cruise Lines said Capt. Leonard Stewart stayed on the bridge as the boat capsized, radioing for help and keeping it alongside the dock as long as he could. The company said it was arranging flights and hotel rooms for passengers and crew. OSM Thome said the tanker’s captain immediately notified the Coast Guard and that the company was cooperating with authorities. It identified the Atlantic Asphalt as a Marshall Islands-registered asphalt tanker built in 2017.

The tanker was moved to Perry Street Wharf. A 500-foot safety zone remained around the American Heritage on Saturday as river traffic resumed under restrictions. Divers were expected to assess the hull, and pollution response crews were monitoring for leaks. Burnham said removing the riverboat could take weeks. “Our top priority now is the safe removal of the hazardous material on board the American Heritage,” she said. The wreck remained on its side against the terminal where passengers had been preparing to leave.