Steam Paddlewheeler Portland ran aground

Found this at: Steamer Portland runs aground

"The Steamer Portland ran aground 1 ½ miles east of the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River late Friday afternoon, the Coast Guard said.

The 186-foot steel vessel lost its propulsion after running aground. There were 97 people on board. No one was hurt.

The Steamer Portland was moored at the Columbia Gorge sternwheeler dock in Cascade Locks. Initial reports show no hull or structural damage. A rescue helicopter crew arrived on scene and verified no pollution was released, the Coast Guard said.

The vessel was on its way to Cascade Locks to race against the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler in the 1st annual “Great Steamboat Race” over the weekend as part of “Sternwheeler Days.”

The Steamer Portland, a stern-wheel tug boat, was built in 1947 for the Port of Portland."

From reading other reports it appears the steering failed and they drifted into either a sandbar or the bank, and something took out some buckets.
Not much real coverage on this, which was the first voyage since a major overhaul to put her back into ocassional excursion service.
S'
David D.