The tanker that crashed into a New Orleans riverboat while it was tied to the dock had been cited repeatedly for safety and equipment problems, according to records.
The Atlantic Asphalt was flagged by the US Coast Guard, Canadian authorities and European maritime regulators for issues ranging from faulty navigation equipment to lifeboats that could not be deployed properly during an emergency, Nola.com reported.
Eight people remained hospitalized after the 15,000-ton asphalt tanker struck American Cruise Lines’ docked American Heritage on the Mississippi River Friday.
Nearly 200 people were aboard the riverboat when the collision occurred. Thirty-two people, including two harbor police officers, were taken to hospitals, though none suffered critical injuries.
Some passengers were forced into the river wearing life jackets, while others held on to the vessel’s railings as it began to tilt.
The Coast Guard cited the tanker in June over defective wiring in its pump room. Canadian Coast Guard officials and European shipping regulators also documented problems involving the Atlantic Asphalt in 2025.
Inspectors also reported last year that the vessel’s lifeboats were not properly equipped for rapid deployment in an emergency.
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The tanker received at least two citations in July 2024.
During a voyage to Baltimore that month, the vessel’s automatic pilot system jammed. 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, filed a lawsuit against the Liberia-based owner of the Atlantic Asphalt and a Singapore-based company that managed the vessel’s voyage Friday.
Disturbing video from the scene showed the tanker apparently lose steering control before striking the docked riverboat. The American Heritage then partially submerged on its side as frightened passengers clung to the railings.
Maritime attorney Cara Miller told Nola.com that the Atlantic Asphalt’s record was especially concerning because the ship is relatively young.
“As a whole, it does stand out that there are so many ‘improper/lack of maintenance’ deficiencies,” she said.
