A bitumen tanker struck a docked passenger vessel in New Orleans, causing it to capsize and triggering a major rescue operation on the Mississippi River. All passengers and crew were accounted for, while 32 people required hospital treatment.
1. ATLANTIC ASPHALT strikes AMERICAN HERITAGE in New Orleans
• The Marshall Islands-flagged bitumen tanker ATLANTIC ASPHALT, IMO 9798428, struck the passenger riverboat AMERICAN HERITAGE at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time on November 13 (18:30 UTC), near the Port of New Orleans administration building.
• The American Cruise Lines vessel was alongside and had arrived approximately two hours earlier to begin passenger disembarkation. The impact caused flooding and the vessel subsequently capsized beside the berth.
• Port authorities initially reported approximately 129 passengers plus crew aboard. Associated Press later reported 180 persons in total. Emergency responders, including harbour police, firefighters, Coast Guard personnel and nearby vessel operators, assisted with the evacuation and water rescues.
• New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno confirmed that 32 people were taken to hospital with noncritical injuries. All passengers and crew were accounted for, with no fatalities reported.
• The U.S. Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to vessel traffic between river miles 93 and 96 while emergency operations were underway. A subsequent reopening notice had not been independently verified at the reporting cutoff.
• The National Transportation Safety Board announced an investigation. Reports of a possible loss of steering or control remain preliminary, and no official determination of the cause has been established.
2. U.S. extends Jones Act waiver by another 90 days
• The White House confirmed on November 13 that the Jones Act waiver would be extended for a further 90 days, maintaining limited opportunities for foreign-flagged vessels to carry eligible cargoes between U.S. ports.
• The extension retains the case-by-case approval requirement introduced in August. It is not a blanket exemption allowing foreign ships to undertake unrestricted U.S. coastwise trade.
• Under the existing approval process, proposed voyages require individual review, including an assessment of whether suitable coastwise-qualified American tonnage is available.
• The White House said approximately 90 million barrels of petroleum had moved under the waiver arrangements since March, including 27 million barrels of gasoline and 26 million barrels of crude oil.
• The extension preserves additional transport options for qualifying petroleum and commodity cargoes, although individual chartering arrangements remain dependent on approval.
3. Container carriers increase planned sailing cancellations
• Drewry’s November 13 Cancelled Sailings Tracker forecasts 52 blank sailings out of 716 scheduled departures across major East–West trades between weeks 47 and 51, representing approximately 7% of planned services.
• Asia–North Europe and Mediterranean services account for 50% of the expected cancellations. The eastbound Transpacific accounts for 31%, and Transatlantic services for 19%.
• Drewry expects 93% of scheduled departures to operate during the period. The cancellation figures are forward-looking and should not be interpreted as voyages already cancelled.
• The Drewry World Container Index declined 2% to $4,305 per 40-foot container on November 12, indicating softer spot pricing despite capacity reductions.
4. Singapore-flagged bulk carrier contacts Delaware River bridge
• Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority confirmed on November 13 that the bulk carrier STRATEGIC ALLIANCE, IMO 9648075, had struck the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge between Philadelphia and New Jersey.
• The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m. local time on November 12, equivalent to 02:15 Singapore time on November 13. The bridge’s movable span was open for vessel passage.
• The contact disrupted road traffic, but the bridge subsequently reopened to vehicles. Singapore’s flag administration reported no injuries, no major vessel damage and no marine pollution.
• The vessel was safely moored at a Kinder Morgan terminal in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an inspection, and Singapore’s flag administration announced an investigation.
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Sources
Port of New Orleans and U.S. Coast Guard, Associated Press, Reuters, Drewry, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
This update is part of the DeepDraft SITREP series covering developing maritime operational situations.
Atlantic Asphalt, American Heritage, New Orleans, Mississippi River, Tanker Collision, Maritime Safety, Port of New Orleans, US Coast Guard
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