Officials say tanker steering failed before it crashed into cruise ship in New Orleans

Steering failure led to collision

The NTSB’s preliminary finding is the first official account of what caused Friday’s crash. At a New Orleans briefing, officials said the tanker’s rudder stayed in a starboard position, directing it toward the river’s east bank.

People taken to hospitals

The roughly 520-foot tanker had 19 crew members. The approximately 300-foot cruise ship carried 140 passengers and 50 crew members. Officials said 32 people, including two police officers thrown into the river as the boat rolled, were taken to the hospital. None of the injuries was critical, and six people were still hospitalized as of Sunday, the city said.

Recorder captured warnings

As the tanker neared the east bank, its data recorder captured sounds consistent with the ship’s whistle, Barnum said. It also recorded warnings and requests for assistance over marine radio.

The data included orders to deploy the anchors and emergency ship-handling commands. NTSB member John DeLeeuw asked anyone with crash photos or video to send them to the agency; a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.