See more of our coverage in your search results.
The tanker that slammed into a docked New Orleans riverboat and injured dozens had been flagged with issues by officials numerous times.
The Atlantic Asphalt had received multiple citations for problems ranging from malfunctioning navigational systems to not being able to properly deploy lifeboats in an emergency by the US Coast Guard, Canadian and European officials, Nola.com reported.
Eight remain hospitalized after the 15,000-ton asphalt tanker collided with the docked American Cruise Lines’ American Heritage on the Mississippi River Friday.
The riverboat had nearly 200 people on board at the time of the crash, and 32 people — including two harbor police officers — were sent to the hospital, none with critical injuries.
Other victims were forced to float in the river in life preservers or clung to the vessel’s railings.
The Coast Guard cited the tanker for defective wiring in its pump room in June, and the Canadian Coast Guard and European shipping regulators reported issues with the Atlantic Asphalt in 2025.
Last year inspectors slapped the vessel with violations, claiming that its lifeboats were not properly equipped to deploy swiftly in an emergency.
In July 2024, the tanker was cited at least twice.
In July, its automatic pilot system jammed during a trip to Baltimore, and two months later it “experienced loss of communication between the bridge and main engine,” according to a Coast Guard report.
The Port of New Orleans, which owns the Thalia Street Terminal where the riverboat was docked, sued the company that owns the Atlantic Asphalt, which is based in Liberia, along with a Singapore-based company that managed its travel Friday.
Horrifying footage from the scene Friday showed the tanker appear to lose steering control and collide directly with the docked ferry, which proceeded to partially submerge on its side as frenzied passengers clung to the ship’s railings for dear life.
Maritime law attorney Cara Miller told Nola.com that the ship’s history of problems was particularly notable because it was such a young vessel.
“As a whole, it does stand out that there are so many ‘improper/lack of maintenance’ deficiencies,” she said.
