JJA to NYC

For those of you who have been to New Orleans and/or are familiar with the New Orleans Steamboat Company: the yachtlike vessel JOHN JAMES AUDUBON (nee BAYOU JEAN LAFITTE) has been sold to a New York City company to run trips out to/ around the Statue of Liberty. She left New Orleans Tuesday under the command of Capt. Don Houghton, current Alternate Master of the NATCHEZ. Don has delivered the COTTON BLOSSOM and other vessels through the Intracostal Waterways System. He has quite an all-star crew onboard, including the two JJA captains Steve Villier and Robbie Mitchell; the port captain Bill Wilson, and the NOSCo. owner Bill Dow and future owner Bubba Dow. They anticipate a 10-12 day trip. The JJA was sold in order to have enough operating money to sustain the NATCHEZ through this slow recovery period. So now all assets of the company are sold except for the NATCHEZ. Apparently there is an agreement that NOSCo. could lease the JJA back in a couple of years if they wish. The JJA had been running the trips between the aquarium and the zoo. As the BJL, she ran bayou cruises prior to that. She also ran many charters for groups smaller than what the NATCHEZ charters. What is little known, however, is that the JJA actually has more indoor seating than the NATCHEZ: about 400 vs. 258. She joined the NOSCo. fleet in 1984. And a NATCHEZ note: she will be doing her annual winter layup starting Dec. 3 for about 3 weeks. This is usually done in January, but this year NOLA has not only the Sugar Bowl, but the BCS championship game Jan. 7..... the pix are from her BJL days, probably about 1988- the corner of the Lower Bienville Wharf shed is visible, and the NATCHEZ has her canopies, put on in '85, and fake scape pipes added about '88...