Topic starter
01/06/2007 10:50 pm
Steamboating colleagues:
Alan Bates got us all to thinking--and remembering--with his earlier thread 'Little-told Tale.' I dug through the junk here and pulled out the files containing copies of letters, contracts, specs on the building of the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN at JEFFBOAT. Much is already know by many here.
"Planning of the new MISSISSIPPI QUEEN was a nearly eight year process. When the realization came that more money would be required, DQ CO. stockholders sold the company to Overseas National (ONA) in 1969. COCA COLA BOTTLING of New York purchased the company and 'Great Ocean Cruise Line' from ONA in an agreement on April 23, 1976. COKE acquired all outstanding stock of the two companies in exchange for shares of COKE valued at $6.2 million. The MQ financing by ONA was through the First National Bank of Chicago, Chase Manhattan Bank and Manufacturer's Hanover Trust. [*Note. DQ CO. had also approached various investors and those 'intrested' in the project in Cincinnati and other river cities.]
The Federal Ships Mortgage Act of 1967, the DQSB CO. was eligible for a mortgage guarantee of 87.5% of the costs. Congress passed the law for riverboat construction to receive same insurance benetifs as ocean vessels. The then DQ CO. was to receive .75% of one percenjt annuyally for outstanding loans.
The MISSISSIPI QUEEN was designed by James Gardner of London, England with coordinated architecture managed by Albert P. Hinkley, Jr., consultant. Albert Hinkley did architectural supervision of the ADNENTURER, originally constructed for ONA and then transfered to CUNARD LINE, Ltd., owners of the QE-2. The exterior design was done by James Gardner. The U.S. supervisor was Schuller & Allen of Huston, who worked on the boat's passenger area designs. The marine consultant was Three Quays Marine Service of London, England, a division of P&O STEAMSHIP COMPANY, Ltd. Interior design accomplished by David W. Baer of the international company of Welton Becket & Associastes Architects, New York City.
The entry of the then new MISSISSIPPI QUEEN
Topic starter
02/06/2007 12:02 am
Steamboating colleagues:
No. 2 following the above. My server went PFFT! just as I was closing the first.
Robert W. Greene, V.P. JEFFBOAT and Project Manager for the company, revealed that the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN was to have made her initial trip April 4, 1976 but suffered construction delays due to product/materials shortages. Betty Blake, president DELTA QUEEN STEAMBOAT CO., said, "We considered pracitcally every possible design and propulsion method. We considered using gas turbine, jet engines and underwater propellers designed like egg beaters, but we finally decided on a steam-powdered, stern paddlewheel of traditional design. It also has the traditional glamour and charm with passengers on the DELTA QUEEN have enjoyed so much."
Paints and related coatings for the steel of the MQ was supplied by PORTER PAINT CO. of Louisville, Ky. weighing in 7,500 gallons of paint and 3,000 gallons of thinner. Some 20 types of coatings were used including inorganic zinc-rich coatings, coal tar epoxy and acrylic latex paints.
The MQ, built by JEFFBOAT, was Hull No. 2999 for Great American Cruise Lines, Inc, A subsidiary of Overseas National Airways, Inc. operator of the DELTA QUEEN STEAMBOAT CO. [*At that time.] I have the initial passenger lists here with names from A to Z for the SHAKEDOWN CRUISE for "shakedown-shakeout" volunteers aboard the MISSISSIPPI QUEEN, July 20 - 22, 1976. Boarding 4:00 PM Cox Park down the Ohio River to Oxbow Bends. The names on the first passenger manifest are fascinating to read now thirty-one years later. It was an experience long to be remembered.
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick
03/06/2007 3:06 am
Though my MQ career began much later ( 1988), strangely enough I do have one small link to the MQ design process. Chief Engineer Pete Jordan was cleaning out some file cabinets one day and showed me a proposal from Dravo for MQ propulsion: gas turbine engines!
As to MQ redesign, some wag one year at lay up made a drawing of the MQ with many, many decks and, instead of stacks, the cooling tower for a nuclear reactor. Ah, well, the things we miss in these enlightened days of no alcohol for crew...