Posted August 15, 200717 yr This sounds like a boat load of crap on the part of the gov't BUT if this beatiful boat has to be decommisioned, I can't think of any better place than "THE PORT OF CINCINNATI OHIO". This belongs here more than any submarine idea that has been thrown around in the past. Parked right by the Steamboat Memorial near GAB or The Central Riverfront Park. THIS BOAT IS CINCINNATI! WE HAVE TO KEEP ON THIS ONE! Evansville Courier Press Law could moor Delta Queen By John Martin (Contact) Tuesday, August 7, 2007 The Delta Queen steamboat, which makes occasional Ohio River stops in the Evansville area, will end passenger cruises after 2008 unless Congress intervenes. For more than 40 years, the riverboat has been exempt from federal rules prohibiting vessels with predominantly wooden structures from hosting overnight cruises with more than 50 guests.
August 15, 200717 yr If she is to stop touring, The Delta Queen deserves to be be moored for good at Cincinnati.
August 15, 200717 yr Without a doubt! Even near the new Central Riverfront in correlation with the Roebling Bridge.
August 15, 200717 yr This is a disturbing situation...the Delta Queen belongs here. But the USS Cincinnati was also ordered to not be decommissioned in the Queen City either. I hope the right decision is made on this.
August 16, 200717 yr ^ for completely legitimate reasons the USS Cincinnati was not allowed to be here. is it not true that its class has not been declassified? i agree...if Delta Queen lands anywhere other than New Orleans or Cincinnati it would truely be a shame. Certainly many of the small river cities along the ohio and mississippi would make their claim. they'd see it as a tourist attraction for the 10 people that visit those places each year. it should be on display in a larger area where it can truely be shown off. some sort of incorporation into the riverfront park would be phenominal.
August 16, 200717 yr Curious PhattyNati, Why didn't USS Cincy make it here? What was the legitimate reasons?
August 16, 200717 yr ^It was my understanding that the transporting of it was too costly and/or risky. I am not for sure though...maybe PhattyNati has some more specifics.
August 16, 200717 yr This is a disturbing situation...the Delta Queen belongs here. Of course! We are the City of Steam!!
August 17, 200717 yr Bon voyage, Delta Queen? BY MALIA RULON | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER August 16, 2007 WASHINGTON – The 81-year-old Delta Queen, a towering red and white steamboat that for decades carried overnight passengers past Cincinnati and down the long, lazy Ohio and Mississippi rivers, could take its last trip next year.
August 17, 200717 yr A link to an online petition and message board: http://www.save-the-delta-queen.org/
August 17, 200717 yr Another fine example of Democrats in power. The Delta Queen goes down (bad pun) because it isn't unionized?
August 17, 200717 yr >“The exemption for the Delta Queen is from fire protection standards that apply to all other passenger vessels operating in the United States. I can’t imagine the number of lives that could be lost if a fire started on the Delta Queen when everyone is asleep,” Oberstar said in a statement. The main reason people would die is because a large chunk of the riders are some combination of old, overweight, and drunk. As long as it isn't too cold out if you're on a riverboat on fire you can just jump out and swim to shore unless you're too out of shape to do it, which a lot of people on cruises are. So is that really the fault of the boat or of the riders? It's kind of like with the hurricane, a lot of people died simply because they were weak to begin with and couldn't climb, swim, or wade their way to safety in addition to being off whatever kind of medication or illegal drugs they're used to. If they really consider safety to be so much of a concern, perhaps overnight cruises could go dry and/or limit people to age 60 although that would obviously scare off a lot of people.
August 17, 200717 yr ^That post pisses me off on a number of levels. It's no one's fault for being "old". And if someone is out of shape, they're still entitled to safety. It's ridiculous to assume people should survive hurricanes; I hope to God youre not talking about a situation like Katrina. Wow.
August 17, 200717 yr I think it's aimed more at people who could possibly be sleeping IF a fire were to occur. Whatever your opinion is, MOST COULD AGREE that it doesn't pose all that much of a danger if it were to just give DAILY CRUISES in different cities. Don't think is has to be banned from touring. I saw it at Tall Stacks last Oct and it made quite an impression as she literally let everyone know that she had arrived!
August 19, 200717 yr In any situation, people who are out of shape raise the hazard for anyone who's in shape. And formal and business clothing slows people down -- how many people couldn't run or cut up bare feet after the terrorist attacks in 2001 because of their dress shoes or high heels? Just think what a chaotic scene it must be in a skyscraper's emergency staircase with all the women carrying their shoes! My point is what's the greater danger -- people being injured and killed by the fire directly or would other problems (such as sinking) have much of the same effect due to people being old and/or obese and unable to help themselves and others and/or drunk? I've actually worked as a deckhand on a commercial boat, being out there is dangerous as hell. When we'd sleep, we'd always put our boots right there by our feet so we could jump out of bed instantly when something happened. I know in the Navy in some cases they actually make people sleep in their boots for that reason.
August 19, 200717 yr You guys will disagree with me, but this is what happens when people look to the government to protect them from every possible problem! You can't avoid everything! Planes crash, bridges collapse, boats sink. There is some risk to everyday living. If not, how could we possibly allow automobiles on the road? More people die daily on the roads than all the bridge collapses over the last 10 years! ( I don't know that as fact, made it up). What are the odds of one riverboat, with more than adequate fire protection, will catch on fire in the middle of the night? Sometimes you go with the odds and say the hell with it. The only thing I can be sure of, and you can bet on, is that I will not die from parachuting from an airplane!
August 29, 200717 yr Sell Delta Queen, bring her home BY DON CLARE | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Opinion Piece The Delta Queen is a National Historic Landmark. One would think that Congress and politicians would show a greater interest in and respect for something awarded this kind of national distinction.
August 30, 200717 yr Bring the Delta Queen 'home'? That would mean back to Sacramento, or San Francisco (a good addition to the Maritime Museum over at Fort Mason). (this is the sister ship, which is a floating hotel in Sacto...both were partially built in Scotland and finished in Stockton, California) ###### And doesn't political stupidity and inflexibility make you scream? All these years with an exemption, and now this.
August 31, 200717 yr not to mention --- if you guys dont get this one and want another one, there are like 3 old paddlewheelers docked on the hudson in the west village. it's kind of weird as they arent doing anything with'em far as i know.
September 6, 200717 yr Push to keep cruises intensifies BY GREG PAETH | CINCINNATI POST September 6, 2007 CINCINNATI - Northern Kentucky riverboat enthusiast Wayne Rassman is working with online campaigns that are supporting an exemption from federal regulations that would allow the Delta Queen riverboat to continue to offer overnight cruises.
September 6, 200717 yr SS Yarmouth Castle was a steamship whose loss in a disastrous fire in 1965 prompted new laws regarding safety at sea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Yarmouth_Castle Excerpt: The Yarmouth Castle disaster led to the creation of the Safety of Life at Sea law, or SOLAS, in 1966. This law brought new maritime safety rules, requiring fire drills, safety inspections and structural changes to new ships. Under SOLAS, any vessel carrying more than 50 overnight passengers is required to be built entirely of steel. This is because Yarmouth Castle's largely wooden superstructure was found to be the main cause of the fire's rapid spread.
September 13, 200717 yr http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07256/817107-53.stm Delta Queen heading to its final dock Venerable steamboat, all aching and wracked with pain after eight decades, will quit plying rivers next year Thursday, September 13, 2007 By Michael A. Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Delta Queen sits docked on the North Shore among the changing leaves and the Ft. Pitt Bridge looming behind. Over 80 years, she has carried U.S. presidents, movie stars, business titans, politicians and, most significantly, common folk who have a love of America's rivers and their history. But in a little more than a year, the legendary Delta Queen steamboat will itself become history, no longer permitted to ply America's heartland waters due to safety concerns.
October 19, 200717 yr Still rolling down the river BY MALIA RULON | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER October 19, 2007 WASHINGTON - Reps. Steve Chabot and Jean Schmidt introduced a bill this week that would allow the historic Delta Queen steamboat to continue operating for at least another decade.
February 27, 200817 yr Delta Queen's reign coming to a close? By Barbara Goldman, Ledger Independent, February 25, 2008 For more than 80 years, the Delta Queen steamboat has spun its wheel across the scenic river by-ways that fill North America.
April 25, 200817 yr I still think Chabot or somebody in Cincy should offer to keep her here AT THE BANKS. From what I understand, they won't allow overnight cruises, but are they going to allow day cruises or are they shutting the door completely????? It would look good either way sitting or boarding at the new Central Riverfront Park. From the Cincinnati Enquirer: Delta Queen's luck runs out BY MALIA RULON | [email protected] WASHINGTON - A motion offered in the House to allow the historic Delta Queen steamboat to continue operating for another decade failed Thursday.
April 25, 200817 yr What I heard is that this whole problem started becaue the company that owns the Delta Queen successfully either broke the crew's union or kept a union from forming. The guy in congress in charge of signing off on the exemption is a big union guy so that's that. Has nothing to do with the safety of the boat, also explains why Chabot would be fighting for the boat.
April 25, 200817 yr ^I believe it! It's sad that is what polotics in this country has come to. I just don't want Dubai. Shanghai, or some podunk Illinois town to ultimately get this boat. It belongs here if the rest of the country has no use for her any more.
April 25, 200817 yr I still think Chabot or somebody in Cincy should offer to keep her here AT THE BANKS. From what I understand, they won't allow overnight cruises, but are they going to allow day cruises or are they shutting the door completely????? It would look good either way sitting or boarding at the new Central Riverfront Park. Agreed.
April 25, 200817 yr This is so much more important to have in Cincinnati along the waterfront than the submarine named after the city.
April 25, 200817 yr ^Agreed! Anyone have any ideas as to WHO would likely be the most influential person in power to maybe get something like this started? I mean mayors, senators, etc. Maybe even the current owners (in New Orleans) would be a good start obviously. They may like the idea since I am sure they are aware of the history of this ship with Cincy. I know I am thinking ahead and they may already have something else planned for it, but if this were to ever happen, NOW'S THE TIME.
April 26, 200817 yr This is so much more important to have in Cincinnati along the waterfront than the submarine named after the city. Yeah, but that would have been cool as well. Anyone have any ideas as to WHO would likely be the most influential person in power to maybe get something like this started? I mean mayors, senators, etc. Maybe even the current owners (in New Orleans) would be a good start obviously. They may like the idea since I am sure they are aware of the history of this ship with Cincy. I know I am thinking ahead and they may already have something else planned for it, but if this were to ever happen, NOW'S THE TIME. I'm guessing that Mallory and Bortz would be your best bet. They actually seem to care about the future of this city and they have a plan for where we are going. If they haven't thought of this already, I'd be surprised if they weren't receptive of the idea. Also, I don't think you're going ahead of yourself. If this is something that is actually possible, getting our ducks in a row early is definitely the right way to go.
April 28, 200817 yr Delta Queen loses House vote, prepares to exit cruise Business Courier of Cincinnati http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/04/21/daily64.html?surround=lfn U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH, blamed labor unions and partisan politics for a U.S. House vote this week rejecting an amendment that could have kept the Delta Queen riverboat from having to phase out its overnight cruise packages.
April 28, 200817 yr B&B already runs a large day cruise business here, there is no more demand in the market, and besides the Delta Queen's configuration not efficient for day cruising.
April 28, 200817 yr Just permanently dock the thing at the new Central Riverfront Park and make it into something cool like a club/restaurant combo...or maybe an upscale lounge of sorts with live music for the older crowd.
April 28, 200817 yr Just permanently dock the thing at the new Central Riverfront Park and make it into something cool like a club/restaurant combo...or maybe an upscale lounge of sorts with live music for the older crowd. That would do amazing business on summer nights when people would like to be out on the river. You could increase the wow factor by having it only open from late spring to early fall, and the occasional special event.
April 28, 200817 yr ^There might be an issue with permanently docking the boat on Public landing or near the Suspension Bridge. This is why with the exception of the Showboat Majestic there is nothing permanently anchored on the Cincinnati side. The "Cincinnati Bridges" is the most dangerous part of the Ohio River for commercial navigation...also public landing is where it is to avoid the current of the Licking River. That current is partly responsible for the Suspension Bridge's record-setting span. You can't just peramently dock the boat either without removing its engines and doing all kinds of work (such as permanent shore electrical connections, plumbing, etc.). If they decide to dock it or bring it on shore into a semi-permanent museum structure, any future move back to active service will also be ridiculously expensive.
May 1, 200817 yr I snapped this shot of the Delta Queen today at the steamboat race in Louisville: And here's the Belle of Louisville, which is also steam:
May 1, 200817 yr You may remember the "Star of Cincinnati" that docked on the Ohio side. It was Cincinnati's answer to Covington's B&B Riverboats and offered short cruises. Riverboat pilots complained endlessly to the Army Corp of Engineers that it obstructed the waterway, and within a few years it was out of business anyway.
May 2, 200817 yr Cash is king: Backers hope to buy Queen BY DAN MONK | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER May 2, 2008 CINCINNATI - Fans of the Delta Queen are trying to pull together a purchase offer for the historic riverboat, with the goal of keeping it in the overnight cruise business - and returning its home port to Cincinnati.
May 2, 200817 yr "To build a modern replica of the Delta Queen would cost about $33 million," Webster. said "So, they probably could not get much more than that if they were to sell her. The other factor is, without that exemption, she's basically worthless. She can't function as a day tripper. She couldn't make enough money to support herself." This will be the kicker. I wish these guys luck. Very interesting article! She would be a great addition to B&B's Fleet..
May 2, 200817 yr Hey, the Delta Queen is tied up at Cincinnati public landing today until 6pm if you all want to go by and see it.
May 4, 200817 yr Here's the Delta Queen departing Cincinnati on May 2, 2008: It will be back about 5 more times this summer, I think as soon as May 5 (as in Tuesday).
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