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Efforts to save boat renewed
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008
NATCHEZ — A grassroots campaign to save the Delta Queen has been renewed.
Jim Coy, manager of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, wrote a letter including a resolution that he has gave to the board of aldermen Monday morning.
It is his hopes that they will adopt the resolultion, he said, and it will be carried all the way to Congress and the steamboat can be saved.
The Delta Queen was exempted in 1966 from the Safety of Life at Sea Act of 1966 that required all passenger vessels with the ability to carry 50 or more passengers to be fire retardant.
The hull of the steamboat is steel but other than that, it is mostly wooden.
Its exemption was renewed several times, the last being 1996 and the exemption will expire Nov. 1, 2008.
Jim Coy, manager of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, said it would be a shame if this steamboat were unable to operate.
Coy got involved in the effort to save the boat when he was contacted by former Natchez mayor Tony Byrne.
Byrne said his involvement with the Delta Queen goes all the way back to his mayoral term, 1968 to 1988.
“Back then, we helped save the queen from being removed from the river,” he said.
Byrne said he saw on the news that the exemption was not going to be renewed and he thought it was a lost cause.
Then Byrne said he read an article that told about the grassroots campaign to save the vessel. In this article, Byrne said, it stated that the 1966 statute was to only apply to ocean vessels, yet it was applied by mistake to the steamboat.
His interest was renewed after reading the article.
“I called Dr. Coy and he picked it up right away and started the ball rolling,” he said.
Coy’s resolution will come before the board of aldermen Tuesday night at their regular meeting.
Mayor Phillip West said he looked over the letter and he supports the resolution and believes the board will too.
“I’m quite sure everyone will be in support of the resolution,” he said.
City Attorney Everett Sanders is looking over the resolution, but West said he thinks it can be adopted as written.
Coy said he is optimistic that the board will respond positively.
The Delta Queen is also the last of its kind, he said. It’s the last steam-powered paddle wheeler.
Coy compared the Delta Queen to a sentiment he had heard before about redwood trees.
“It would be like cutting down the last redwood tree,” he said. “Why would anyone go to the redwood forests if there are no redwood trees?”
Byrne said its important to the city to have the boat’s passengers stop in Natchez and visit and spend money.
West agreed that it is economically important to Natchez but also historically.
“It’s not only a historical landmark but it also tells a story of life on the river for so many years and I don’t think we should lose that,” he said.
Coy said trying to save the boat is worth the effort.
“It’s the history of our town, the history of our country,” Coy said. “If our voice makes a difference, here’s our voice.”
Comments
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 3:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is just dumb. The steamboat needs to be in a museum. These fools would rather see her sink in the river than be perserved.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 4:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Youre rite beammeup....it would be great to dock it in Natchez & make it a museum.If the fools still want to see it sink...how about sink it in the old river...it would be a great place to fish around.
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 5:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what is the differance in this boat being on the water than the cruise ships on the ocean. They are alot newer and they metal and have sunk and lives were lost. I do not see anyone screaming to have those pulled from the waterways? As long as the boat is properly maintained and not pushed to extreme limits then I see no reason why it should be decommissioned.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 5:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I doubt the cruise ships saw the civil war.
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
beam, neither did the Delta Queen. she was built in 1920's.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right, I just assumed that the ship was that old because of all the press. I looked it up and the ship didn't start running the river until 1948. Now I really don't understand the problem of putting her to rest in a museum.
Posted by pittypat55 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the difference between a cruise ship and the Delta Queen? Oh my. It is huge! Cruiseliners, like steamboats have a multitude of activities to do while on board (bands, dancing, bingo, lectures, lots of good eating, etc.). However, cruiseliners have to actually dock before there is scenery (discounting water water everywhere). On a riverboat, all one has to do is sit out on the deck and watch the world go by: eagles, deer, men fishing, children playing, trees, need I say more?
And, the excursions are right here in the good ole USA! Civil war battlefields, Space Center, the Kentucky Derby, and so much more. I have enjoyed the pleasure of both, and they are both wonderful in their own way.
Yes, the Delta Queen needs to be saved, to be used and enjoyed!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When you sign up for a cruise on the Queen do you have to sign a liability release in case it catches fire and you burn to death?
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the Queen keeps on rolling.....safely
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok if this boat would serve no purpose as a musuem. There is nothing wrong with this ship running the river. This is just a legal clarification the Coast guard needs to clarify. Let not sink this boat b/c of fear. And for the record this boat is not steam powered, it has a diesel engine. It even served under the Navy in WWII - http://www.navsource.org/archives/14/340...
This boat has operated safely for a long time, and it can continue to do so if done properly.
Posted by CitizenSane (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Delta Queen is a National Historic Landmark, like Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
She is also the only floating National Historic Landmark.
To have her permanently anchored in Natchez as a national attraction, telling the national story of the MIssissippi River, steamboats and paddlewheeling, would be a wonderful economic boost for our town. It would help revitatlize Natchez Under the Hill for sure.
To purchase her would cost MILLIONS. If the IOC, the Lane Co and the Emerald Star really wanted to do something positive and lasting for Natchez, they could pitch in to bring the DQ to our riverfront.
By the way, MANY towns up and down the river, not just Natchez, feel that the Delta Queen belongs to them. Also, the current grassroots effort to save her was started overseas quite a while ago by a European steamboat enthusiast. So, Natchez is late to the game.
http://www.steamboats.org/save-the-delta...
Posted by progressntz81 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They are making the "QE2", Queen Elizabeth 2, into a floating hotel in Dubai.
What a great idea for the Delta Queen; only in Natchez of course, not Dubai!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But the problem would remain...remember they are afraid of it catching on fire from all the wood so its a PEOPLE in it thing.
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Delta Queen is quite a boat: She races our Belle of Louisville on the Ohio each year, in preparation for the Kentucky Derby. The only time the Belle of Louisville can beat the Delta Queen, is when the Delta Queen takes pity on us, and allows the Belle to win - all fact, no brag... Trust me, we wish it were the other way around. So those of you who think the Delta Queen is "way past her prime" and should be relegated to a museum, ought' climb aboard her for an excursion. In closing, a quote comes to mind: "A ship in the harbor is safe... But that's not what ships were made for."
Kaintuck
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the problem with the Delta Queen is all of the wood that it is made of...what about all of the new hotels they look like a fire hazarad to me.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
easier to get out of a hotel or motel than a boat!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, from some of the above posts peopel are really afraid of wood now. Do people realize that about 95% of houses are framed of wood? You sleep in your house right? This is something the USCG (coast guard) needs to look at. I feel sure once this is reviewed, they will either extend the exemption for the Queen or change the law all together. Since when was wood so evil?
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mike8427, great reasoning with your comment.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you jump out of the window of your house, you will hit dirt or concrete. If you jump out of the Delta Queen, they will find your corpse in New Orleans....becoming fishbait. But I do agree that it should be left to operate. It has operated a long time, just tell everyone that comes onboard the imminent danger and let them sign a legal binding waiver before the cruise. Make saure a real lawyer draws it up, not some guy you meet on the same bus that has his picture on it.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I am glad that you agree redman, but you just said said above to tell everyone onboard of the "imminent danger". The definition of imminent is "likely to occur at any moment".
This boat has operated for 80 years without an incident. She also operates along the bank of the river, so if by slim chance there was a fire, she would just pull over. This theroy that this boat is a fire hazard is HUGELY exagerated.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Jim Coy should run for mayor
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to take a cruise on that boat
Anyone ever checked into what it costs? I was shocked how expensive it actually costs for a cruise!!
Posted by oldriverrat (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't normally respond to BLOGS, but having read beammeupscotty, and shedevil, I felt compelled to do so. My summer job in my high school years was on the SS Delta Queen, as an oiler. My late uncle was the Chief Engineer, and he would let sons, or nephews work during the summer months, to make spending money for the up coming school year, and also learn some important lessons in life. The SS Delta Queen is rich in history, to read on this you can go to www.steamboats.org and see. Over the years the owners of the Queen, starting with Green Line Steamers, to Coca Cola, yes you read that right, have gone the extra mile to make Her as safe as possible for the passengers as well as crew. They continued to make changes, up to including fire retardent paint. The hull on the Queen is not made of wood, it's triple dipped galvanized steel. The Queen is never more than five minutes from shore, so the likely hood of having to jump over board and becoming fish bait or floating up in New Orleans is slim to none. There is no more "imminent danger" taking a cruise on the Queen, than getting in your car and taking off on a trip. My feeling is that you would be safer on the Queen than on the highway with some of the drivers that I've witnessed lately. The Queen deserves more than just becoming a museum. The next time She's in Natchez, you need to go down to the river and see Her Majestic Beauty. I for one agree with Mr. Coy, we should support Save the Queen.
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