I am always suspicious of fake Mississippi in tourist service: usually they are fake paddle too.
I photographed these two in the morning, then saw one while I was cruising on a monohull motor vessel.  The movement of the wheel seemed to be too slow for the pace of the boat, so at least one must be a fake.

See also:
<www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2118.msg7473#msg7473>

140116Th-P1000401-Paris-SWPV_LouisianeBelle-RSmith
140116Th-P1000403-Paris-SWPV_BelleVallee-RSmith

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

Some info here: http://www.bateauxdeparis.net/index.php?ID=1009784
and here: http://www.bateauxdeparis.net/index.php?ID=1009812

Louisianne Belle info says
"Propulsion : roue à aubes entraînée par deux moteurs hydro-électriques."

In other words two electrically driven propellors

All the best
Brian Gates
Gillingham

'roue à aubes entraînée par deux moteurs hydro-électriques' translates as "paddle wheel powered by two hydro-electric motors', in other words diesel-hydraulic

Hi PD's........Alistair........"moteurs hydro-électriques'..... motors hydro-electric motors', in other words diesel-hydraulic"  .....there is one element missing in the translation.... ....that is the electrons

There are various combinations or possibilities here

1. low voltage electric motors driving hydraulic pumps in a closed loop with hydraulic motors to the paddle wheels 
2. diesel engines driving hydraulic pumps in a closed loop with hydraulic motors  to the paddle wheels  ..... ....sounds plausible but where are the electrons?
3. diesel engines driving hydraulic pumps in a closed loop with geared electric motors  to the paddle wheels  .....

I give up........possibly.... the original French text 'moteurs hydro-électriques'..........is incorrect.........Derek 

Here is the photo which alerted me to the fact that the paddlewheel is fake.

Paris (France), Seine River: MV (fake SWPV) Belle Vallée.  Thurs.16.1.14.  (Roderick Smith)

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria