Topic starter
25/04/2010 7:00 pm
I have heard, from several unrelated sources, that, the American Queen has indeed been sold. To whom, for what purpose, I do not know. Several of the sources also tell that Mike Sutton has been assigned as Chief Engineer on the boat.
Surly this was not done without having been picked up by the Sternline Telegraph".
Slipping something this big, both boat and news, would be a first for the eagle eyed, and eared, people of this and other river related sites.
Anyone want to add or varify the story?
26/04/2010 1:50 pm
As of April 21, the AMERICAN QUEEN was still moored in the Naval Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, Texas.
26/04/2010 2:51 pm
Fred,
What you have heard may be a combination of several facts and rumors.
Last I heard, Mike Sutton was retained as Engineer by MARAD. This was done to have someone familliar with her machinery visit on a regular basis to ensure things are kept in good condition. Since she isn't your typical diesel screw wheel vessel, they did this to be sure they had qualified personel to maintain her.
There have been scads of rumors about AQ sales. So far, no one has bought her. The latest rumor is that Blue something...the financial arm of American Cruise Line, was looking at her. I don't doubt it (might as well have first hand experience with your potential competition)...but, I hear they aren't interested for many reasons. None of them were disclosed to me through a 3rd party.
I imagine alot of people will be looking at her this year. ACCL and ACL are looking into overnight operations on the Mississippi. This is a well known and documented fact. So you know they have looked at her. A while back there was talk several former DQSCo people were forming a consortium to possibly get and operate one of the boats. Of course, there is the operators of the Delta Queen Hotel who have expressed interest in leasing her from MARAD as a floating hotel in New Orleans (and possibly running her later).
Lets hope some day she returns to the river. She is a beautiful vessel and it is a shame she sits against the bank in a slough off the Intracoastal, rusting away, far from peering eyes to adore her. Perhaps someone will wander back there and just wake up to her beauty and get her going again! Lets hope so!
Travis