New Orleans Port Sues Tanker Owner Over Mississippi River Crash

New Orleans Port Sues Tanker Owner Over Mississippi River Crash

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The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans filed a lawsuit against the owner and operator of the tanker that struck a docked cruise ship in the Mississippi River on Friday, WUSF reported.

The legal action seeks at least $1 million in damages following the collision between the Atlantic Asphalt tanker and the American Heritage river cruise paddleboat. The lawsuit names the tanker’s owner, Nave Shipping SA, and its management company, Thome Ship Management, as defendants. This move comes after the collision left the cruise vessel on its side and partially submerged at the Thalia Street terminal during passenger disembarkment.

While the physical impact caused significant structural damage, the human outcome was described by New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno as “the miracle on the Mississippi.” Nearly 200 people were on board the American Heritage at 12:30 p.m. Friday, and although 32 people were transported to the hospital, none suffered critical injuries. As of Saturday, eight people remained hospitalized, including two in serious condition.

The escalating cost of the wreckage

The financial implications for the port extend far beyond the immediate destruction of the Thalia Street terminal. According to the lawsuit filed by port officials, the physical damage is currently estimated to exceed $1 million, but the board anticipates “additional substantial direct, indirect and consequential damages.”

These anticipated costs include the complex logistics of cleaning the river, conducting structural surveys, and the high price of salvage and replacement. To protect these interests, port officials requested that the tanker be seized and sold to cover the mounting damages, a request a federal judge approved on Friday.

The environmental stakes are equally high. Coast Guard Capt. Melanie Burnham said that the American Heritage is estimated to have 160,000 gallons of fuel on board. The current focus for responders is the safe removal of these hazardous materials and the full reopening of the river to traffic.

“We’re going to have divers in the water so they can do a full assessment on what’s the right path to be able to remove it,” Capt. Melanie Burnham said. American Heritage. Burnham

To mitigate the risk of an ecological disaster, the Coast Guard has deployed teams throughout the river system to monitor for pollution. Currently, restrictions remain in place for boat traffic along the Mississippi River as these operations continue.

Investigation into steering failure

The exact cause of the crash remains a central question for federal investigators. While the collision occurred at the Thalia Street terminal, early indications from the Coast Guard suggest the Atlantic Asphalt may have experienced a mechanical failure. Capt. Burnham stated the tanker appeared to have had an issue with steering.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead on the technical investigation. Investigators have already recovered the tanker’s voyage data recorder, a device similar to a flight data recorder used in aviation. This data is expected to clarify the ship’s movements leading up to the impact.

John DeLeeuw, a board member with the NTSB, explained the significance of the recovered device during a Saturday briefing.

Port of New Orleans sues tanker owners in federal court after crash on Mississippi River — WVUE FOX 8 New Orleans

“The voyage data recorder essentially is going to provide the data… We can look at speeds and all kinds of information. It’s essentially covering speed all kinds of maneuverings that was done on the ship,” DeLeeuw said.

The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within 30 days. A final report, which will detail the probable causes and provide safety recommendations to prevent similar maritime accidents, is not expected for 18 to 24 months.

Entity Involved Role in Incident Status/Action
Atlantic Asphalt Tanker vessel Seized by federal order
American Heritage Cruise paddleboat Partially submerged; removal ongoing
Nave Shipping SA Tanker owner Named as defendant in lawsuit
Thome Ship Management Management company Named as defendant in lawsuit

While the tanker has been towed away from the site, Mayor Moreno said that the removal of the American Heritage from the river could take several weeks.

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