Port of New Orleans sues owners of tanker that hit docked riverboat, citing over $1 million in damage

The Port of New Orleans is suing the owners and managers of the asphalt tanker that collided with a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River, saying the tanker was at fault for an incident that caused more than $1 million in damage to port property, according to a lawsuit reviewed by CBS News.

The Atlantic Asphalt tanker struck the much smaller American Heritage passenger boat on Friday afternoon while the riverboat was docked at the port's Thalia Street Terminal. Port NOLA said Friday that an estimated 129 passengers, along with crew members, were aboard the cruise ship when the collision happened. Everyone on both vessels was accounted for, and no fatalities or critical injuries were reported, though the cruise ship was left on its side and largely submerged.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court late Friday, names the tanker, the M/V Atlantic Asphalt, its owner Nave Shipping SA and its management company Thome Ship Management Pte, Ltd.

According to the filing, the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. The port is seeking money to cover cleanup, inspections, repairs and other expenses, and it asked that the tanker be seized and sold to pay for the damage.

The lawsuit alleges the tanker and the companies failed "to use all available means to avoid the risk of" colliding with the stationary riverboat. It also points out that a presumption of fault arises when a moving ship strikes a stationary object.

The collision "occurred as a result of the negligence, gross negligence, fault or careless of the" ship and its operating companies, the lawsuit alleged.

Nave Shipping and Thome Ship Management did not immediately respond to requests for comment from CBS News about the lawsuit.

In a statement posted Saturday morning, Thome confirmed that the crew of the Atlantic Asphalt is safe and accounted for. The company said the tanker had been separated from the riverboat and was stably anchored while damage assessments are carried out.

"OSM Thome is fully complying with the local authorities as they carry out the necessary investigations," the company said. "We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all parties and personnel who responded to this incident with urgency and humanity."

The lawsuit also notes that additional parties may be identified and added to the legal proceeding as the investigation into the collision continues.