THE owners of a tanker that crashed into a cruise ship docked in New Orleans on Friday are being sued by port authorities.
Nearly the Mississippi River horror which caused more than $1million (£756k) in damages.
The port is now claiming the for the disastrous smash, according to court documents.
A total of 32 people were treated at local hospitals following the catastrophe, but none had critical injuries.
All 197 passengers and crew on the American Heritage cruise ship survived as well as the employees aboard the tanker.
Officials called the dramatic rescue a “miracle on the Mississippi”.
The exact reason for the crash remains unknown, but US Coast Guard Captain Melanie Burnham said the tanker appears to have had “some type of a loss of steering”.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the capsize.
Terrifying clips showed passengers clinging to the sides of the partially submerged ship and being pulled from the water in a frantic rescue.
Court documents allege the port terminal “was significantly damaged” in the ordeal.
The M/V Atlantic Asphalt, its owner Nave Shipping SA, and its management company, Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd, are all named in a federal court lawsuit filed on Friday in Louisiana.
Records show the port is demanding money to cover cleanup, inspections, repairs and other expenses.
The lawsuit also suggests the tanker should be seized and sold to pay for the damage.
It claims the collision “occurred as a result of the negligence, gross negligence, fault or carelessness” of the ship and its operating companies.
The lawsuit alleges that the tanker and companies failed “to use all available means to avoid the risk” of ramming the riverboat.
In shocking footage of the incident, the huge tanker is seen steaming towards a smaller river cruiser as bystanders watch on in horror.
The huge Atlantic Asphalt slams straight into the side of the docked cruiser, reportedly punching a hole that pierced through to the ship’s dining room.
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the horror collision near the Port of New Orleans in Louisiana at around 12.30pm on Friday.
The ship tilts at a sharp angle and can be seen sinking rapidly.
It then falls fully on its side just feet from the port as rescuers scramble to save passengers from the river.
Passengers can be seen clinging to life rafts and attempting to swim to safety as their huge vessel begins to slip beneath the waves.
Footage recorded inside the river cruiser from the moments before the disaster shows the huge tanker heading straight for the smaller ship.
The passenger recording the video backs away from the window in fear before running for her life.
The Atlantic Asphalt capsized the American Heritage, a river cruise ship operated by American Cruise Lines.
Cruise ship restaurant manager Zayvion told ABC passengers were “scared” during “chaotic” scenes after the crash.
He said: “There was a hole in the hull of the other boat in the dining room.”
“It was a little chaotic, but our team knew what we were doing.”
Zayvion added: “A lot of people were just scared, especially as the boat tipped over.
“It was scary for a lot of people. Even me, like, when it was tipping, I was like, it was getting real.”
