On November 13, 2026, a 525-foot tanker named Atlantic Asphalt lost control on the Mississippi River and hit a docked riverboat in New Orleans. Within hours, people were asking who owns the ship.
The short answer is Nave Shipping SA, the company listed as the registered owner. But the full picture is messier, and a few reports point to other names. Here is what the records show as of November 15, 2026.
Which Atlantic Asphalt Are We Talking About?
Most people searching this name right now mean the asphalt tanker with IMO number 9798428. It is a ship built in 2017 and flagged in the Marshall Islands.
Some small paving contractors in the U.S. also trade under similar names. Nothing in the news reports links them to the vessel.
Who Owns the Atlantic Asphalt Right Now?
The ship’s P&I insurer, Gard, lists Nave Shipping S.A. as the owner. The ship-tracking site MagicPort also names Nave Shipping as the registered owner and commercial manager.
The Associated Press reported that Nave Shipping is registered in Monrovia, Liberia, based on International Maritime Organization data. The Port of New Orleans used the same name in its lawsuit.
Ownership and Key Parties Table
| Party | Role | What Reports Say |
|---|---|---|
| Nave Shipping SA | Registered owner and commercial manager | Named by Gard, the port’s lawsuit, and AP; registered in Monrovia, Liberia |
| Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd | ISM (safety) manager | Singapore-based private company; named in the lawsuit |
| China State Shipbuilding Corporation | Reported parent of Nave Shipping | Based on MarineTraffic data cited by AP; not confirmed by the companies in sources reviewed |
| Scott Owen Savage | Reported owner in one outlet | Appeared in a Waterways Journal report; unconfirmed and does not match registry records |
| Gard P&I (Bermuda) | Liability insurer | Lists Nave Shipping S.A. as owner |
| Marshall Islands | Flag state | Ship is registered there, not in the U.S. |
| Port of New Orleans | Plaintiff | Sued the ship, its owner, and its manager |
| American Cruise Lines | Operator of the American Heritage | Riverboat that was struck |
Is a Chinese State Company Behind Nave Shipping?
The AP reported that Nave Shipping is a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a huge state-owned company. That detail came from the ship-tracking service MarineTraffic, as reported by NBC Washington.
CBS News said Nave Shipping and Thome had not answered requests for comment. So treat the Chinese-parent claim as reported, not confirmed. Chinese state shippers have been in the headlines at other choke points too, like the Panama Canal.
What About the Scott Owen Savage Report?
A law-firm blog noted that the Waterways Journal, citing local news, said the ship is owned by Scott Owen Savage, a South Carolina entrepreneur. That does not match the insurer or lawsuit records.
I could not find this claim confirmed anywhere else. Please handle it with caution until the owners or investigators say more.
Registered Owner vs. Real Owner
Think of a car with one name on the title and a different person who really uses it. Ships work the same way. The registered owner is the name on paper, while the beneficial owner is the person or group that really controls the ship.
It is common for a ship to belong to a one-ship company, with a separate firm running the crew. Many shipping companies use this setup, which is why ownership questions after an accident can take weeks to answer.
Who Runs the Ship Day to Day?
Thome Ship Management is listed as the ISM manager, which means it handles the safety system on board. The lawsuit calls it a private limited company based in Singapore.
Thome said on Saturday that the crew is safe and accounted for. The ship flies the Marshall Islands flag, so it is not an American-registered vessel.
What Happened on November 13
Around 12:30 p.m., the tanker lost control near the Port of New Orleans and struck the American Heritage, which was docked at the port’s Thalia Street Terminal. Officials said the tanker “lost control,” and the AP reported it lost its steering. The exact cause is still under investigation.
The riverboat capsized and partly sank, as NBC News reported. Nearly 200 passengers and crew were aboard, and the U.S. Coast Guard helped lead the rescue.
All of them were accounted for. Thirty-two people went to hospitals with non-critical injuries, and no injuries were reported on the tanker. New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno called it a “miracle on the Mississippi,” according to ABC News.
The Lawsuit and the Ship Seizure
That same evening, the Port of New Orleans filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Louisiana. It named the ship, Nave Shipping SA, and Thome Ship Management, and claimed more than $1 million in damage to its terminal, as CBS News reported.
A warrant was also issued so federal marshals could seize the vessel. FOX 8 reported that the tanker was later towed to the Perry Street Wharf on the west bank.
What Does the Atlantic Asphalt Carry?
The ship is built to carry asphalt and bitumen, the thick, black material used for roads and roofing. You can read more about bitumen if you are curious about how it works.
Asphalt comes from refining crude oil, the same business run by majors like Shell. The Mississippi empties into the Gulf of Mexico, and the river near New Orleans is one of the busiest shipping stretches in the country.
The American Heritage Riverboat
The American Heritage is run by American Cruise Lines and sails under the U.S. flag. It was finishing an eight-day river trip when the crash happened.
It is a small paddlewheel boat, very different from the ocean ships of MSC Cruises or Royal Caribbean. That size difference is part of why a hit from a 525-foot tanker was so serious.
Why Ownership Matters After a Crash
Owners and managers are usually the first parties named when someone seeks money for damage. That is why the port’s lawsuit went after both Nave Shipping and Thome.
I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. Courts and investigators will decide who is responsible, and the lawsuit says other parties “not yet identified” may be added.
What Happens Next
The NTSB and the Coast Guard are investigating. Officials said they recovered the ship’s voyage data recorder, which works like a black box and may show how the steering failed.
Crew interviews and requests for public video are also underway. Until those results come out, the cause and final ownership details remain open.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns the Atlantic Asphalt tanker?
Records name Nave Shipping SA, registered in Monrovia, Liberia, as the registered owner.
Q2. Who manages the Atlantic Asphalt?
Thome Ship Management Pte Ltd of Singapore is listed as the ISM manager.
Q3. Is Nave Shipping owned by a Chinese company?
AP reported it is a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, based on MarineTraffic data, but this is not confirmed.
Q4. Is the Atlantic Asphalt an American ship?
No, it is registered in the Marshall Islands.
Q5. When and where did the crash happen?
On November 13, 2026, at about 12:30 p.m. at the Port of New Orleans.
Q6. Was anyone killed?
No deaths were reported; 32 people were hospitalized with non-critical injuries.
Q7. Who was sued?
The Port of New Orleans sued the ship, Nave Shipping SA, and Thome Ship Management.
Q8. What caused the crash?
The cause is under investigation by the NTSB and the Coast Guard.
The Atlantic Asphalt is registered to Nave Shipping SA, with Thome Ship Management as its safety manager. One reported link to China State Shipbuilding Corporation and one reported individual owner remain unconfirmed.
Everyone on the American Heritage was rescued, and the investigation is just beginning. This story is still developing, so expect details to change.
Official Record: Gard vessel record for Atlantic Asphalt
