A federal court has ordered the seizure of the Atlantic Asphalt tanker after it capsized in a collision with a cruise ship, causing over $1 million in damages.
A federal court has issued a seizure order for the Atlantic Asphalt tanker, which capsized after colliding with a passenger ship at the Port of New Orleans. The port authority has filed a lawsuit against the tanker’s owner and operator, stating that the accident caused over $1 million in damages to terminal facilities. The court ruled that the vessel should be detained by federal authorities.
Following the maritime accident that occurred on November 13 at the Port of New Orleans in Louisiana, legal proceedings have commenced. The Atlantic Asphalt tanker, navigating on the Mississippi River, collided with the passenger vessel named American Heritage, which was docked at the port, prompting the New Orleans Port Authority to seek legal action in federal court.
The port authority requested compensation exceeding $1 million, asserting that the accident caused significant damage to the terminal infrastructure.
Court ruling for the detention of the tanker
In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the Atlantic Asphalt tanker, along with its owner Nave Shipping SA and technical operator Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd., were named as defendants.
The court ruled in favor of the port authority's request for the tanker to be detained. It is anticipated that federal officials will keep the vessel under control until a new court ruling is issued.
Additionally, the port authority requested permission for the sale of the tanker to cover the damages incurred. However, no definitive decision regarding the sale of the vessel has been announced.
Over $1 million in damages at the port
Documents submitted to the court by the New Orleans Port Authority indicate that significant material damage occurred at the Thalia Street Terminal, where the accident took place.
Initial assessments suggest that the physical damage at the terminal exceeds $1 million, and it has been requested that additional costs arising from cleaning, inspection, repair, and salvage operations be included in the compensation claim.
The port authority alleged that the accident resulted from negligence or faults in the operation of the tanker. However, the exact cause of the accident has not yet been determined.
32 people were hospitalized in the accident
The Atlantic Asphalt tanker, with a carrying capacity of 17,764 DWT, collided with the American Heritage river cruise ship, owned by American Cruise Lines, while navigating on the Mississippi River on November 13.
As a result of the collision, the passenger ship partially capsized and was evacuated by rescue teams, with passengers and crew members being rescued.
While there were no fatalities in the accident, 32 individuals were hospitalized. According to the latest reports, eight people are still receiving treatment in the hospital.
Statement from the tanker’s operator
OSM Thome, the technical operator of the Atlantic Asphalt, confirmed that the vessel is under their management.
The company reported that an emergency response team was deployed following the incident and that they are working in full cooperation with local authorities.
It was stated that the tanker is in a safe condition, and the investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
Voyage records of the vessel are being examined
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
As part of the investigation, the voyage data recorder (VDR) of the Atlantic Asphalt has been retrieved for analysis.
Initial findings suggest that the tanker may have lost steering control prior to the collision. However, this possibility has not yet been confirmed.
The NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within approximately 30 days, while a comprehensive investigation is anticipated to take longer.
The federal court's decision regarding the tanker marks a new phase in the legal and financial ramifications of the accident.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
