New Orleans port sues to get control of tanker that crashed into cruise ship on Mississippi River
Just hours after a tanker lost its steering in New Orleans, slamming into a docked river cruise boat, the city's port filed a lawsuit to ensure federal investigators can seize the vessel owned by a Chinese subsidiary. The Atlantic Asphalt tanker, carrying asphalt and bitumen, crashed into the American Heritage cruise ship, causing at least $1 million in damage to the port's terminal.
Despite the incident, all 197 passengers and crew aboard the American Heritage survived, as did the tanker's crew. Thirty-two people were hospitalized, with no critical injuries and eight remaining hospitalized on Saturday. A judge issued a warrant for federal control of the Atlantic Asphalt, which has been towed away from the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board dispatched investigators to New Orleans to determine the cause of the crash. Passenger Joe Knab described the harrowing moments as the tanker blasted its horn, ramming the cruise ship, causing it to lean and roll into the Mississippi River. Life vests were crucial in saving many lives, according to New Orleans Harbor Police Chief Melanie Montroll.
The tanker's owner is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a Chinese state-owned conglomerate.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
