A failure in a tanker’s steering system left its rudder fixed in position, sending the vessel into a cruise ship docked in New Orleans, U.S. safety officials said Sunday.
The preliminary finding by the National Transportation Safety Board marked the first official explanation for Friday’s collision between the Atlantic Asphalt tanker and the American Heritage cruise ship. The impact caused passengers, crew members and two police officers to fall into the Mississippi River.
NTSB investigators said at a New Orleans briefing that they have not determined what triggered the steering malfunction.
“It could be many different things,” said Bart Barnum, an NTSB accident investigator. “That is something that we’re investigating very closely.”
The tanker was approximately 520 feet (160 meters) long and carried a crew of 19. The cruise vessel measured about 300 feet (91 meters) and had 140 passengers and 50 crew members aboard.
Thirty-two people were transported to hospitals, including the two police officers who were thrown into the river when the cruise ship rolled over. None of the injuries was considered critical, though six people were still hospitalized Sunday, according to a statement from the city of New Orleans.
The steering failure left the tanker’s rudder turned to starboard, or toward the right. That caused the vessel to move toward the river’s east bank, where it struck the cruise ship about two minutes after the rudder became stuck, Barnum said.
As the tanker neared the east bank, its data recorder captured sounds “consistent” with the vessel’s whistle, along with warnings and calls for help transmitted over marine radio, Barnum said. The recording also contained orders to drop the anchors and emergency instructions for maneuvering the ship.
NTSB member John DeLeeuw asked anyone who witnessed the collision or captured photographs and video to share the material with investigators. The agency is expected to issue a preliminary report within 30 days. DeLeeuw also commended the “excellent response” by federal, state, local and private vessels that quickly joined the rescue effort.
The cruise ship overturned in 22 minutes, DeLeeuw said.
Within hours of the collision, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the tanker caused at least $1 million in damage to its terminal. A judge also issued a warrant Friday that placed the vessel under federal control for the time being.
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