US investigators have recovered the voyage data recorder from a tanker involved in a collision with a docked passenger vessel on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, as they work to establish the cause of the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said its investigators recovered the recorder from the tanker Atlantic Asphalt on Saturday, a day after it collided with American Cruise Lines' paddle-wheeler American Heritage.
The passenger vessel had 191 people on board when the collision occurred on Friday, prompting passengers to flee as the ship sank.
No fatalities were reported, although emergency responders rescued about 100 people from the water, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said on Saturday.
Thirty-two people were taken to local hospitals following the incident, with nine remaining hospitalised as of Saturday afternoon, she said.
The voyage data recorder captures critical information including a vessel's speed, direction and course, as well as audio from the bridge and other operational data.
Reuters reported on Sunday NTSB member John DeLeeuw saying 16 investigators were at the scene and were arranging interviews with people involved in the incident.
He also appealed to members of the public with video footage of the collision to submit it to the agency to assist the investigation.
Moreno said the sunken American Heritage could take several weeks to be removed from the site.
The NTSB investigation is expected to examine the circumstances leading to the collision and the events that followed. - November 15, 2026
