MQ Moving

Here are three photos of MQ being towed upriver at Taft, La. on March 29, 2011 by Billy Smith. The tug pulling is CROSBY ENTERPRISE and the assist boats are CROSBY RENEGADE and WEBB CROSBY. If anybody wants higher resolution photos, contact me direct at
[email protected]

Okay, so they were northbound at Taft last night. That is not quite 35 miles above NOLA. It appears they are headed for Baton Rouge again, either to go through Port Allen Lock and down the Port Allen Route to Morgan City, or to do something (???) in Baton Rouge. They picked the highest water in quite some time to do all this.

Thanks!

Thanks Dan and Billy. We should be able to track her progress on AIS now that we know the boats pulling her. I just checked the AIS and it apparently is down as I couldn't get any vessels to come up from NOLA to Reserve...

At 1213 CDT the M/V Crosby Renegade was N/B just below College Pt.. She was listed making 2 MPH. Camera at the ready but told we are headed to Baton Rouge later today. My boat is currently tied off above Sunshine Bridge. Thank you Capt. Smith.

in peak form

Looks like we've got the sternline telegraph going again in peak form, Fred!

1645 M.Q. passes under Sunshine Bridge.

M.Q. at Sunshine Bridge

It's currently raining, very hard! Flashing lighting and very close thunder claps.
I just spoke with the M/V Co-Op Spirit, which is the "Command Boat" for her N/B adventure. They are currently holding up, awaiting traffic.
With the weather it is hard to see her. She is also hard to see as the mold has turned her a dark gray and she blends in with the right decending bank tree line. The weather, her mold, and knowing the final outcome of this journey make for a very gray day. Both in visual and in mood.
Regardless of one's preferance for one Steamboat over another, it's still hard to see her in this shape and on this trip.
Crew members, passengers, people who are river aware, all have some kind of memory of this boat. Some difficult, I gained and lost a wife on this boat. Many who struggled during her first few years of service. But I also have many better and happier memory's. The people I worked with and met because of her. My first experiance steering anything bigger than a motor boat. I was working on her when I got my first Marine License. Even the accident she had at Taft.
While that was unnerving and a lot of headaches. The experiance is irreplaceable and taught me much.
It is currently raining and hailing, so hard it is almost shut-out. I will close for now with hope that pictures will follow with my next post.

I have tried to upload pics of the M.Q. as she went past. I do not have the required "Security Token" and get an ERROR message when I try to contact Admin.
Oh well!!!
I also need to correct a misstatement on my part. The lead boat is the M/V Crosby Enterprise. My mistake for the wrong I.D. For some reason the company seems to feel I should be working during this time so trying to do several things at once. Those of you who know me, know this is an "iffy" deal at best. I'm darn luck to be able to do one thing at at time.

I can see the WEBB CROSBY and the CROBY ENTERPRISE underway with 1.3 kt. The CROSBY ENTERPRISE is listed with destination Portalain. The CROSBY RENEGADE is running ahead with 4.7 kt and listed with Argosy Shipyard Amelia.

All boats are South of the Plaqumine-Sunshine ferry right now.

Carmen

The CROSBY RENEGADE made a short stop at the Sunshine ferry dock and has returned to the fleet. They are currently making a bit more than 4 kt and are North of the ferry.

Carmen

The info I have, (at 9:45 central) from AIS, shows the MQ and company passing Gardere, La. and making 3.5 kts..

As far as the destinations listed on AIS's, don't put too much stock in them. That info is entered by the vessel operator prior to the trip (or is supposed to be) and often it does not get done. On inland waters, few if any look at that info when they track a vessel.

nothing on my AIS

My AIS site has gone blank regarding vessels, but I'm guessing they were going to take the MQ through the Port Allen lock and down to Morgan City that way. But from a satellite view it looked like there was a lift bridge just past the lock in the canal. Is that true? Has anybody else been able to find the tugs this afternoon?

Judy: My AIS map has gone blank also. From Garyville,La to north of Natchez,Ms, It did that about noon..
Yes, I also see the railroad lift bridge on satellite..

Bosses are all wondering why productivity is down today, Homeland Security is on high alert thinking there's a terror plot on the Lower Mississippi, all because all us steamboat nuts have overloaded the AIS system trying to watch the MQ's progress on her final voyage into steamboat history.

Yes I'm guilty too!

Aaron

Would someone, whom is more computer savy than I, post the AIS website. I feel left out from all of the fun.

Frank,

I use Live Ships Map - AIS - Vessel Traffic and Positions

But as Judy and Dave posted the section we need to view has been blank for a couple hours. Who would have thought there were so many people interested in a steamboat being towed to her death bed.

Aaron

You're right on all counts AJ

Yes, this is as bad for work productivity as the NCAA basketball tournament - and I guess for me its proof that this is the end for the MQ, after so many false starts. Of course, she' not over there yet, so there's probably more adventure to come. Frank, I have seen the AIS on the NATCHEZ but didn't realize I could get it myself until this week. Great, another thing to fool with to keep me from getting anything done!

Lift bridge on Port Allen Route

There is a lift bridge, the Morley Railroad Bridge, on the Port Allen Route not far south of Port Allen Lock. It is plenty high and wide for the MQ and her assist vessels. There are several other swing bridges and one pontoon bridge on the PAR as well. The PAR itself is a very narrow waterway. I don't know what they will do when they get to Bayou Sorrel Lock...I THINK it is only 56 feet wide.

Does anyone know what they did with the AQ after she was built at Morgan City? Did they go "outside" to bring her around?

Thanks, Judy and AJ, for your replies.

Bob, the AQ was brought through the Gulf and then up the Mississippi on her delivery trip.

AQ Route

Bob: Yes they did.. I was on her when she came outa the shipyard..
And it was a ruff trip.. Bad weather and BIG waves.. They even had her bow boarded-up, kinda like the DQ when they brought her around from Calf..

05:30 CT.. AIS shows the CROSBY RENEGADE in the Port Allen Canal (west southwest of White Castle) near the junction of highways 75 & 404. And tied off just above what appears to be a lock..
However there is NO sign of the CROSBY ENETERPRIZE or WEB CROSBY

At 6:06 a.m. CT this morning, the Webb Crosby was tied up near the Lapalco Blvd Bridge in New Orleans according to AIS. I noticed it was there at 1 a.m. and five hours later, when I checked, there was no change.

Thanks Jeffrey, good hunting...

Thoughts of Happier times..
YouTube - Tall Stacks 2006: Mississippi Queen