Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Peter Knego
AMERICAN QUEEN in drydock. Photo courtesy of Great American Steamboat Company.
January 19, 2012 Update:
The AMERICAN QUEEN safely entered drydock at Louisiana’s Bollinger Shipyard to have her undersides pressure cleaned and painted. Despite marine growth from the boat’s three year layup, her hull is in excellent condition. Special thanks to Tim Rubacky and Christopher Kyte for providing these interesting new images.
AMERICAN QUEEN port side underside. Photo courtesy of Great American Steamboat Company.
AMERICAN QUEEN rudders. Photo courtesy of Great American Steamboat Company.
January 18, 2012: Beginning a new phase of her resurrection for Memphis-based Great American Steamboat Company, the 420 foot AMERICAN QUEEN left her berth at Louisiana’s Bollinger Shipyard to be drydocked, following a complete restoration and painting of her upper hull and superstructure. The 436 passenger steamboat, the largest ever built, will be returning to service on April 13, 2012.
AMERICAN QUEEN heads to drydock. Photo courtesy of Great American Steamboat Company.
For more information, please click here.
Special thanks: Christopher Kyte, Tim Rubacky
Stewart
January 18, 2012 at 2:07 pm
Returning to service on April 13 , 3012 ?. A mighty long refit !.
Peter Knego
January 18, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Good catch, Stewart.
Richard
January 18, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Any hope to getting the delta queen running again?
Kenneth Eden
January 19, 2012 at 7:51 am
Lets hope this one befits the moniker American”QUEEN”. I truly wish her and Great American Steamboat Company the very best of sailing success.
The poor DELTA QUEEN has too much wood, which as lovely as it is, would have to be removed due to SOLAS regulations. Beautiful paneling could be a hazzard. Replacing it would be very costly. Short of a museum the DQ will probably never return to the river. At least she’s still around, unlike the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, rotted and sent to China for scrap.
David Walker
February 15, 2012 at 12:25 am
American Queen arrived in New Orleans on February 7th to begin the final phase of her re-entry into service.
Her are a couple of AIS grabs of her journey up the Mississippi River:
3:30am Feb. 7th
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/pictures/Ad_3603_13.jpg
5am Feb. 7th
http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/pictures/Ad_3603_14.jpg
And a six pictures of her pier side can be found on this bog:
http://www.steamboats.org/forum/steamboats-history/4541-photos-aq-perry-st-2-8-12-a.html