Congressman Carter Responds to Port of New Orleans Crash

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. issued the following statement following the collision of a tanker with a cruise ship on the Mississippi River near the Port of New Orleans. American Cruise Lines' riverboat, American Heritage, was docked and preparing to disembark when it was struck by an Atlantic Asphalt tanker, causing it to capsize and sending survivors into the Mississippi River. At the time of the crash, nearly 130 passengers plus crew members were on board.

"I am devastated to hear about the ships crashing near the Port of New Orleans. I am monitoring the situation closely and praying for the swift rescue of survivors and for all emergency crews responding to the situation.

"As we continue to learn more about this tragedy, I commend the swift actions of the NOLA Harbor Police, the New Orleans Fire Department, the New Orleans Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, emergency medical personnel and everyone who responded to the situation.

"I am in communication with the Chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is fully engaged and will be en route to New Orleans as soon as the nationwide flight grounding is lifted. We hope to further work with local, state, and federal leadership to address this emergency now and prevent similar situations in the future.

"Tragedies like these remind us why the security of our maritime sector is so important. The Jones Act requires that goods shipped between U.S. ports be transported on vessels that are American-built, American-owned, and American-crewed, ensuring a strong, safe domestic merchant marine fleet. In March, following the dramatic hike in global oil prices from the Administration's reckless war in Iran, the Trump administration waived the Jones Act, letting foreign-flag tankers carry cargo between U.S. ports, in a futile attempt to keep energy prices down. I opposed that waiver, as it unnecessarily increased foreign-flag ships in our busiest waterways without the crew screening, accountability, and transparency required of U.S. vessels.

"The administration issued a sweeping waiver for energy products, including crude oil. The foreign-flagged vessels used for these products are typically large ocean-going tankers with enormous momentum, and one mistake in a busy port can cost lives.

"Today in New Orleans, a foreign-flag asphalt tanker struck a docked river cruise ship carrying 129 passengers, and now a search and rescue mission is underway for missing passengers. We don't yet know the cause, or whether this ship was operating under the waiver. But if it was, this is exactly why we shouldn't waive the Jones Act: a huge tanker, a crowded stretch of the Mississippi, and the public bearing the risk.

"The current waiver has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars to our domestic maritime industry and now, endangered American lives. It is set to run through November 15, and the administration should let it end there.

"My heart is with the survivors, their families, and everyone who witnessed this horrific accident."

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