USAupdated 14m ago2 min read
NTSB Says Atlantic Asphalt Steering Casualty Preceded New Orleans American Heritage Collision
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5 Western Mainstream2 Other1 Asian2 Other source typesThis article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Atlantic Asphalt experienced a steering casualty; its rudder reportedly stuck before hitting American Heritage. The collision sent about 32 people to hospital; no fatalities and everyone aboard accounted.
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Steering failure, then collision
The National Transportation Safety Board said a "steering casualty" preceded the collision between the Atlantic Asphalt tanker and the docked American Heritage riverboat in the Mississippi River near New Orleans. NTSB investigator-in-charge Bart Barnum said investigators were "looking at all of them" as they tried to determine what caused the steering failure that left the tanker27s rudder at a starboard position.
The BBC reported that the collision left 32 people from the American Heritage in hospital with non-critical injuries, with no one unaccounted for. The CBC said the Atlantic Asphalt27s rudder was stuck in one position and that the American Heritage capsized at the dock, while no one was killed in the collision.
What investigators are checking
The NTSB said the tanker was upbound on the Mississippi River as it moved toward the east bank just before the collision, and it based that account on findings from the vessel27s voyage data recorder. The BBC said audio consistent with the ship27s warning system was broadcast minutes before the crash, along with commands to deploy the vessel27s anchors and emergency ship handling orders.
The CBC said NTSB officials were investigating whether the tanker27s anchors were deployed and, if so, at what depth, and they said interviews with the crew of the Atlantic Asphalt were scheduled over the next week. The Fox 8 Live WVUE report said NTSB investigators downloaded more than nine hours of information from the Atlantic Asphalt27s voyage data recorder and found a steering casualty around 12:26 p.m. that left the rudder stuck starboard.
Hospitalizations, response, next reports
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said six of the 32 survivors hospitalized after the accident had not been discharged as of Sunday, and she said two were in serious but stable condition. The NOLA report said six people remained hospitalized Sunday after the crash, and it said the city continued efforts to help those affected, while Ochsner officials said they cared for eight patients on Friday who had since been released.
The NTSB said a preliminary report is expected in about 30 days, and the BBC said the agency expected a preliminary report in 30 days. The NOLA report said the National Transportation Safety Board arrived in New Orleans on Saturday and said the process could take more than a year in total, with a preliminary report on causes within 30 days and a final report within one year to 18 months.