New Orleans port sues tanker owners over cruise ship collision for $1m

The paddlewheel cruise ship, American Heritage, was left on its side and partially submerged in the Mississippi River after it was hit by the cargo vessel Atlantic Asphalt on Friday afternoon.The court documents added that the port terminal "was significantly damaged" in the incident.The tanker, the M/V Atlantic Asphalt, its owner Nave Shipping SA, and its management company, Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd, are all named in the federal court lawsuit filed on Friday in the Eastern District of Louisiana court. Officials are still investigating the full extent of the damage from the crash, as well as the cause, but the lawsuit says the port is looking for money to cover cleanup, inspections, repairs and other expenses.The lawsuit requests that the tanker be seized and sold to pay for the damage. It also alleges that the collision "occurred as a result of the negligence, gross negligence, fault or carelessness" of the ship and operating companies.It alleges that the tanker and companies failed "to use all available means to avoid the risk" of colliding with the riverboat. Nave Shipping is a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. BBC has contacted the China State Shipbuilding Corporation for comment. Thome Ship Management has also been contacted. The firm said in a statement on Saturday that the crew of the Atlantic Asphalt were safe and accounted for."OSM Thome is fully complying with the local authorities as they carry out the necessary investigations," it said.There were about 129 passengers, in addition to crew members, on the American Heritage at the time of the collision, according to the port authority.Tugboat operators, police and other rescuers rushed to help while officials shut down traffic in the Mississippi River during the rescue effort.The American Heritage had been finishing an eight-day cruise calling at destinations in Louisiana and Mississippi along the waterway.