Open Veils · Answer
Captain or pilot of the Atlantic Asphalt ship that crashed yesterday
The captain or pilot at the helm has not been publicly named. What is confirmed: a licensed river pilot from the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association (NOBRA) had boarded the Atlantic Asphalt roughly 30 minutes before the crash, taking over navigation from a Crescent pilot near Arabi. The source with direct knowledge was not authorized to speak publicly, and no official statement has named the individual or described their actions.
Evidence
- Per nola.com and The Advocate (November 13–14, 2026), a NOBRA pilot — the licensed local expert required by law to guide foreign-flagged vessels through the Mississippi — was at the conn when the allision occurred at approximately 12:30 pm local time.
- OSM Thome, the vessel's ship manager, confirmed the incident on November 14, 2026, identifying the tanker by IMO number 9798428.
- The NTSB is the lead federal investigative body; their team was delayed by an FAA ground stop, per Rep.
- Creole Queen Captain Brian Clesi, 53, confirmed his crew launched a rescue boat immediately upon hearing the American Heritage was going over — corroborating the severity and speed of the capsizing.
- The handoff from a Crescent pilot near Arabi is a standard procedural transition on that stretch of river, making the NOBRA pilot the operative navigation authority at the moment of impact.