No Indian Crew Onboard Asphalt Tanker That Collided With Riverboat in New Orleans

Government records confirm that no Indian nationals were part of the crew on the bitumen carrier Atlantic Asphalt when it crashed into a docked riverboat in New Orleans. The accident took place on Friday, November 13, and involved the river cruise boat American Heritage, which had about 180 people on board.

The Accident

The tanker appeared to lose its steering system before slamming into the docked cruise vessel. The impact caused the riverboat to take in water, tilt, and eventually sink along the jetty. Passengers and crew were plunged into the Mississippi River, triggering a major rescue operation. Everyone on board survived the crash, and videos from the site show that passengers were wearing lifejackets which aided in their survival.

Ship Details

The Atlantic Asphalt is registered in the Marshall Islands and owned by a company registered in Liberia. It is managed by a Singapore-based ship management company that does employ Indian seafarers on other vessels. MarineTraffic records show the managing company is a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a large Chinese state-owned conglomerate. A report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute noted that this Chinese firm accounted for nearly a quarter of the global commercial shipbuilding market in 2022 and stood as the largest military shipbuilder globally at the time.

Context

Major marine collisions involving large cargo ships often trigger intense scrutiny over vessel control failures, steering losses, and crew management. This incident drew immediate comparisons to past high-profile maritime accidents like the Dali container ship crash in Baltimore and the Ever Given blockage in the Suez Canal, both of which involved Indian crew members.