Where Steamboats Go To Die !

More MQ Pictures !

Greetings From harvey !
Just a few more MQ pictures !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

More MQ Pictures !

GreetingsFrom Harvey , La. !
Just a few more MQ pictures ! I was truley amazed how rapidly and to what extent this once beautiful boat deterioated ! What a shame !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Ted....I'm not familiar with what is in the NOLA area anymore, so in your last picture...the one looking at the swimming pool on the roof....what is the steamboat looking boat that is visible in the background? It looks pretty good.

Cap,

I would love to see more...actually, I would love to see them in a book after her restoration. However, we all now know that isn't gonna happen. We have lost way too many boats now...this is getting out of hand. We must do something to support those left and keep them alive. lets not forget the JULIA BELLE SWAIN (who is looking for a new owner and home as we speak!), the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE, and the NATCHEZ!

My email is [email protected] If you are in the mood to share, that is.!

Travis

Time has stopped

Thanks Ted for the photos!

These pictures are not that much different from the Feb. 2009 pictures of Toots. I think she is in a safer place now away from the Perry Street Wharf.

Seeing her here might be strong enough to get the money men to turn her around. There is a awful lot of work to be done, but she looks better than if she had sunk in the Old Miss.

In 1992 -3 the two boats we grossing 60 million+ a year. That's from the shareholders reports of DQSB. With some changes and better buisness management, they could do better. Riverboatas in Europe are doing great, lets hope this country turns around soon!

Ted,
Thanks for sharing these. When were they taken? Have you heard any word on the new owners plans for the boat?

The Casino

Jim Reising;21904 wrote: Ted....I'm not familiar with what is in the NOLA area anymore, so in your last picture...the one looking at the swimming pool on the roof....what is the steamboat looking boat that is visible in the background? It looks pretty good.

The "paddlewheeler" in the background is the Boomtown Casino vessel in the Harvey Canal.

To be scrapped

Without a miracle, the Mississippi Queen will be scrapped. It was sold for "scrap value" to the new owners.

In a way, "Where steamboats go to die" is not so much where the boats themselves go, it's more where the keys to the boats go.

That's easy - Seattle.

Paul

More Str. Mississippi Queen Pictures !

Greetings From New Orleans ,
Just a few more pictures of the " Remains " , of the Str. Mississippi Queen !
One glimmer of hope that I have recently thought of is the fact that where the Str. Mississippi Queen has been removed to is nothing more than a vacant lot on the Harvey Canal and is not set up to cut up and remove the metal and debris from the boat . I am just guessing that possibly the boat has been moved there inorder to free up the Perry St. Wharf , and not to scrap the boat . Just food for thought !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Cap,

Lets all pray that is the case. Cause lets face it, we have lost so much already, it'd be nice to see this one rise from the grave like Phoenix!

Travis

If the post in another thread stating the vessel was reflagged to Canada is true, then there is a good chance the new owner is trying to do something commercial with the vessel. Hope is not lost.

she's gone

Guess I was wrong.

Mississippi Queen paddlewheel steamboat ends its days in a scrapyard | NOLA.com

TP article

That article was on the front page today, with the picture of the unknown gambling boat, which I posted last night on here, on the front page. The stern of the MQ appeared with the continuation of the article on p. 4. Geez, that boat doesn't look a bit like the MQ. That information is just what we have been posting, and included quite a few comments from Doc Hawley. The reflagging was probably something to do with regulations in dismantling her. There is no port listed on her stern anymore. Our NATCHEZ people have talked with the new owner and he is planning to take it down to the hull after selling whatever he can before the cutting begins. Where he plans to use the barge, who knows.

Pics

Ted,
Thanks for the pics. She really looks like alot alot of money could bring her back. How far did you get inside the boat if you don't mind could you send me the pics you took and the date they were taken. My email is [email protected]
Thanks
Ed

According to a close source I have in NOLA, the new owner is not a huge hurry to dismantle the boat if a buyer could be found. For what they have heard, he would entertain offers however none have come so far...They say her dismantled salvage value is 1.5 millon tops...so I'm sure if a decent offer would come around, he would rather sell her as dismantle her...Thoughts?

Is the MQ's whistle still on?

Is 1.5 mil the net or gross scrap value of the MQ 'dismantled'? In other words, is that the price that will be paid for what goes over the scrap yard scale? If so, then the cost of cutting up the boat, including gas, oxygen, labor, and transportation would really eat into the one-point five. I wonder what they would take for the boat as-is-where-is without the owners having to light a torch?

Also, who knows what the present owners paid for the MQ? If that was known, it would help in determining a fair price for acquiring the old girl.

More questions than answers...

No, the whistle is long gone, as are the parts of the calliope and most anything brass. As to the new owner waiting, seems like there have been plenty of opportunities to buy it already. The only way I could see someone buying it now is that this owner isn't asking as much as AMIE... But the big question is, if you bought it, what would you do with it???? Maybe you could buy her cheap, but putting her into operating condition would be ridiculously high. And is the new owner being charged a docking fee there in the Harvey Canal? That would eat into whatever price he could get. Seems like this is just prolonging the agony...

I couldnt agree with you more, it would cost a lot of money to get it back to runnin again

A Few More MQ Pictures

Greetings From Baton Rouge .
Iam presently on board a north bound loaded tanker for the Exxon Refinery in Baton Rouge and thought I'd share a few more MQ pictures .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70

Ted Davisson;21898 wrote: Greetings From Harvey , Louisiana ,
The pictures speak louder and more clear than I know what to say . If anyone is interested in more of these pictures let me know and I will be happy to share them with you !
This was one of my most sadest days !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson

Ted Davisson;22010 wrote: Greetings From Baton Rouge .
Iam presently on board a north bound loaded tanker for the Exxon Refinery in Baton Rouge and thought I'd share a few more MQ pictures .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70

Doing some more info....looks like the 1.5 million total I was told would be her net worth after dismantling at best...They said there is no realistic way that she could ever move on her own power again, the cost would be to great..however she could be used in a mooring situation as a hotel, casino, etc after a massive rehab to her exterior shell, meaning she would be taken to the studs..and rebuild the entire interior...The question is...would somebody be willing to take on this major project and investment to save her. Just some rough numbers would be estimated around 4 to 5 million,not including the purchase of the boat...Although it doesnt look good, the chances of saving her are still there....but the clock is ticking...She is still for sale in whole or pieces...whichever comes first.....

Has to be gross value. Anyone know what the engine would be worth? It is reported to be in good shape. The vessel is about 4000 tons. That puts the scrap at $375/ton if the engine value offsets the tow, dockage, and asbestos/trash cleanup.

Buyers?

There was a guy who posted on another thread who said they were trying to get the boat. This has been for a floating hotel in Merietta Indiana I think will check and correct if wrong. Has he been turned down completely? He has never posted anything new. Alot of unanswered questions building with no answers, talk about a bubble waiting to burst.