Mississippi Queen's Last Voyage To The Breakers

[herrmill]

She may not have had such a storied career as her older sister, Delta Queen, but the Mississippi Queen was one of the last remaining overnight passenger carrying paddle wheelers in use in the US. Left to rot at the wharf by Majestic America Line, she had an uncertain future the last few years & ultimately destined for scrapping.

http://www.steamboats.org/steamboat-pictures/mississippi-queen.html

Here are some of the last photos you'll see of her as she was towed the other day to Southern Scrap in the Harvey Canal in New Orleans.

MQ is down bound on the Mississippi before going through Algiers Lock and Canal to the Harvey Canal for scrapping. It was in the Harvey Canal where the DQ was fitted out after her sea voyage to go under her own power up to Cincinnati.

Taken by Capt. Steve Nicoulin from the roof of NATCHEZ 7:30 PM Tuesday, May 11, 2010.

[herrmill]

Thought I'd post another photo from a more happier time. 

[marinemole]

Always sad to see a ship go to the breakers. Thanks for sharing.

Andy

[djcf]

Yes, I agree, a sad sight. Although the last picture in happier times is a cracker, so much going on.
What happened, did business dry up?

Clark

[PaddleWheel]

SOLAS (I think) banned ships with a wooden superstructure* from having a passenger certificate in 2007. DQ had a temporary exemption but this was short lived, hence why DQ and MQ were withdrawn at the end of the 2008 season. The Majestic America Lines (her owners) ceased operating in 2009 too, DQ is currently a hotel (http://www.deltaqueenhotel.com/)

*Not sure if MQ had a wooden superstructure or not, and I think she was withdrawn earlier than the Delta?

[rjenkins]

Actually SOLAS banned ships with wooden superstructures from overnight passenger service back in 1966.  The Delta Queen had been running on an exemption granted by the US Congress since then, but when that exemption came up for renewal in 2008 (as it had done every few years and was always routinely passed), it was blocked by the chairman of the house transportation committee because under the current owners, Majestic America Line, the crew was non-union.

The Mississippi Queen was built in the mid-70's, and has a metal superstructure.  She was undergoing a major refit when Majestic America Line decided to get out of the Mississippi steamboat business after the 2008 season, a decision that was presumably a combination of the Delta Queen losing her exemption and the slumping economy.  Most of her interiors were gutted, and worse, she had become infested with toxic mold during the layup in New Orleans.  There had been some talk of her becoming a hotel somewhere along the river, but considering the amount of work she would have needed just to get her into a usable condition even for a static role, plus the fact she's not particularly historic, not to mention the ongoing recession, apparently the cost proved to be prohibitive.