Topic starter
12/12/2010 4:55 pm
CNN reported early this morning that the sternwheeler BRANSON BELLE was aground on Table Rock Lake Saturday with 500+ passengers, who had to spend the night on board. Due to weather conditions they decided to wait until daylight to attempt moving the boat. Thank goodness she's HEATED and there was plenty of food! Hope all aboard are doing OK!
River Trivia Fact: The big double circle pilotwheel in the pilothouse of the BRANSON BELLE came from the steam towboat C.C. SLIDER, long a fixture here in the Louisville harbor, owned by the E.T. Slider Sand and Gravel Company. The boat was dismantled in the early 1950's at the Maxon yard in Tell City and the wheel was acquired by the late Bert Fenn who had a river collection second to none. The wheel was sold at auction in 1994 and placed on the BRANSON BELLE,
12/12/2010 9:01 pm
The Branson Belle was build on location. Bandannas were used to grease the launch ways when she was put into the Lake.
The report on the radio this a.m did not state just where she went aground but did mention "engine difficulties" prior to grounding. I know nothing other what Keith posted or what I heard on KMOX radio at 7:00 today.
12/12/2010 10:14 pm
an AP story this afternoon
12/12/2010 10:17 pm
and another one, with more info
All passengers off; Coast Guard assessing moving Belle | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader
Apparently power was lost on the landing approach and she was blown into this position.
12/12/2010 10:20 pm
What does she have for propulsion? The CNN article mentioned propellers and a "thruster" in addition to the paddlewheel, but came across like the reporter was using the terms interchangeably and didn't know any better, unless of course she has propellers and a bow thruster, or azipods, and a drag wheel.
13/12/2010 5:07 am
Richard Jenkins;24056 wrote: What does she have for propulsion? The CNN article mentioned propellers and a "thruster" in addition to the paddlewheel, but came across like the reporter was using the terms interchangeably and didn't know any better, unless of course she has propellers and a bow thruster, or azipods, and a drag wheel.
Rich,
The Branson Belle has an electric motor drive system, one 500hp motor for each of the two paddlewheels, each one is 24ft overall diameter, 16 feet wide. She does also have a bow and stern thruster, both are electric drives at 350hp each.
As far as I know she does not have a backup main propulsion system like the Minne-Ha-Ha.
17/12/2010 6:06 pm
???
Not to be one to second-guess another Captain's judgment, but I wonder, after reading the newspaper accounts of the incident, why the BB HAD to go out in those conditions? Couldn't the Christmas show and dinner have been done dockside? It's no fun, for anyone, to be put into such a perilous situation possibly caused by pressure from the 'front office' to cruise when you, as the one responsible, know in your gut that the boat, passengers, crew, and yourself should not be "out there". And unless, a person, personally, hasn't been liable for the consequences of such a decision, they will not fully understand what I am saying.
Luckily, things worked out so there were no serious injuries or, heaven forbid, fatalities, but questions will be asked, and heads (and licenses) may roll. My regards to a good crew and all those rescue personnel who aided in the successful evacuation of the vessel.