On a Friday afternoon, a loaded asphalt tanker drifted into the American Heritage, a small passenger riverboat tied up at the Thalia Street Terminal on the Mississippi, and left the boat on its side and largely submerged. The Port of New Orleans, which owns the damaged property, moved to federal court within hours, seeking more than a million dollars and the seizure of the ship itself. Under an old rule of the sea, the moving vessel carries the presumption of blame when it strikes something standing still, and the courts will now decide whether that presumption holds. For now, the people aboar
Port of New Orleans Sues Tanker Owners After Collision Damages Docked Riverboat
No fatalities or critical injuries were reported; about 129 passengers plus crew from both vessels were accounted for.
The cruise boat was left on its side and largely underwater.
Mark
Why did the port file suit so quickly, within hours of the crash?
Mimi
The filing came late Friday, the same day as the collision. Asking the court to seize and sell the tanker is a way to secure something to pay for damage the port says exceeds $1 million.
Luke
Worth noting that $1 million is a floor in the port's own filing, and the lawsuit itself says the full extent of damage is still being assessed. It's the port's figure, not a finding.
Mark
What's the legal footing for blaming the tanker?
Mimi
The suit points to a presumption of fault when a moving ship hits a stationary object. The American Heritage was docked at Thalia Street Terminal.
Luke
A presumption isn't a verdict. The negligence and gross negligence language is allegation. Nothing in the reporting says what actually happened on the tanker's bridge or why.
Mark
What do the companies say?
Mimi
Nave Shipping and Thome didn't respond to CBS about the suit. Thome's Saturday statement said its crew is safe, the tanker is anchored, and it's cooperating with investigations.
Luke
That statement addresses cooperation, not blame. It doesn't dispute or accept the allegations.
Mark
And the people aboard?
Mimi
About 129 passengers plus crew on the riverboat, and everyone was accounted for with no fatalities or critical injuries reported, even though the boat ended up largely submerged.
Luke
That 129 is an estimate from Port NOLA, so I'd hold it loosely. Also unknown: how many minor injuries there may have been, and who else might be named as a defendant.
Le Pouls
- A tanker struck a docked riverboat at the Thalia Street Terminal, and the cruise boat is now on its side and largely underwater.
- Some 129 passengers and crew from both vessels have been accounted for, with no deaths or critical injuries reported.
- The Port of New Orleans filed suit within hours, naming the tanker, its owner Nave Shipping SA, and manager Thome Ship Management.
- The port is asking the court to seize and sell the Atlantic Asphalt to cover damages that already exceed one million dollars.
- Damage assessments are still underway, more parties may be added, and final costs and liability remain open.
On a Friday afternoon, a loaded asphalt tanker drifted into the American Heritage, a small passenger riverboat tied up at the Thalia Street Terminal on the Mississippi, and left the boat on its side and largely submerged. The Port of New Orleans, which owns the damaged property, moved to federal court within hours, seeking more than a million dollars and the seizure of the ship itself. Under an old rule of the sea, the moving vessel carries the presumption of blame when it strikes something standing still, and the courts will now decide whether that presumption holds. For now, the people aboard have been counted and survived, while the question of what the river and the law will cost remains unsettled.
On Friday afternoon, the asphalt tanker Atlantic Asphalt struck the American Heritage, a much smaller passenger boat tied up at the Port of New Orleans' Thalia Street Terminal on the Mississippi River. By the time the impact ended, the cruise boat lay on its side, largely underwater. Port officials said about 129 passengers were aboard, and everyone on both vessels has been accounted for. No deaths or critical injuries were reported, and the tanker's crew is safe.
Late that same Friday, the port went to federal court. Its lawsuit names the tanker, its owner Nave Shipping SA, and the management company Thome Ship Management. The port says the collision caused more than $1 million in damage and asks for money to cover cleanup, inspections and repairs. It also asks the court to order the tanker seized and sold to pay the bill.
The argument leans on a long-standing maritime principle: when a moving ship hits a stationary object, the ship is presumed at fault. The riverboat was docked, and the port alleges the tanker's operators failed to take every available step to avoid it. Nave and Thome did not immediately comment, but Thome later said the tanker has been separated from the riverboat, is anchored steadily, and is cooperating fully with local authorities.
The case is at an early stage. The full extent of the damage is still being measured, more parties may be added, and who will ultimately pay, and how much, has yet to be decided.
On Friday afternoon, an asphalt tanker called the Atlantic Asphalt struck the American Heritage, a much smaller passenger boat that was tied up at the Port of New Orleans' Thalia Street Terminal on the Mississippi River. By the end of the collision the cruise boat was on its side and largely underwater.
Port NOLA said an estimated 129 passengers were aboard, along with crew members. Everyone on both vessels has been accounted for, and no deaths or critical injuries were reported. The tanker's crew is also safe.
Late Friday, within hours of the crash, the port went to federal court. Its lawsuit, which CBS News reviewed, names the tanker itself, the M/V Atlantic Asphalt, along with its owner, Nave Shipping SA, and its management company, Thome Ship Management Pte, Ltd. The port says the collision caused more than $1 million in damage to its property.
The filing says the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. The port is asking for money to cover cleanup, inspections, repairs and other expenses. It also asks the court to order the tanker seized and sold to pay for the damage.
The legal argument rests on a familiar maritime principle. The suit notes that when a ship hits a stationary object, a presumption of fault arises against the ship. The riverboat was docked at the time. The port alleges the tanker and the companies behind it failed to use all available means to avoid the risk of hitting it, and that the collision resulted from negligence, gross negligence, fault or carelessness on their part.
Nave Shipping and Thome Ship Management did not immediately respond to CBS News requests for comment on the suit. Thome did post a statement Saturday morning. It confirmed the Atlantic Asphalt's crew is safe and accounted for, and said the tanker has been separated from the riverboat and is stably anchored while damage assessments take place. The company said OSM Thome is fully complying with local authorities as they carry out the necessary investigations. It thanked everyone who responded to the incident with urgency and humanity.
The case is at its earliest stage. The lawsuit states that more parties may be identified and added as the investigation continues. The final repair bill and any findings on who is liable remain open, and both will depend on the damage assessments and the investigations now underway.
Citations marquantes
OSM Thome is fully complying with the local authorities as they carry out the necessary investigations.— Thome statement, Saturday
The collision occurred as a result of negligence, gross negligence, fault or carelessness of the ship and operating companies.— Port of New Orleans lawsuit (paraphrased)
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