Mississippi Queen question

Which time? The M.Q. was struck by a large deep water bulk carrier and several years later hit by a tow.

Ed: As you requested, here are several photos of the MQ, taken when she was sunk in the Lower Mississippi River near Donaldsonville, LA., after colliding with the towboat CRIMSON GLORY on December 12, 1985. Press reports said the boat was "aground" which, technically, was true inasmuch as she was sitting on a sandbar, thanks to the quick thinking of her crew. The accident occurred during HIGH water and had that sandbar not been there...

A cursory cruise through the filing cabinets also turned up this snapshot, taken in December, 1985, of the late Capt. Roddy Hammett with the sunken MQ in the background.

*RE: MQ sinking/photos*
Keith has again provided fine photos of the MQ sinking incident. That 'incident' received much wide coverage in the media. Fortunately, all worked out, repairs made and back in service.

Wilbur Dow attended S&D in Marietta following and was asked to step to the microphone for his usual greetings and comments. Mr. Dow never hesitated with insights on the incident, vessel design, legal ramifications. He held us breathless. When Mr. Dow rose to speak people listened. I wonder now if any attendee that weekend was able to catch his remarks on a recorder? Mr. Dow, as an admiralty lawyer, was one of the team of lawyers representing the SWEDISH AMERICAN LINE following the colliding of the STOCKHOLM with the ANDREA DORIA in 1956 wih the loss of the DORIA. Some 60 lawyers on both sides represented the companies for claims from some 1,200 suits. All ended being settled quietly outside of hearings. Alan Bates, Judy Patsch, and others, knew Mr. Dow far better than me and no doubt have insights and anecdotes. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

MQ pix

Yes, Roddy and a friend drove up to Donaldsonville to view the sunken MQ - the company never used the term 'sunken' or 'sank', but she was sitting on the bottom, which in general terminology is considered 'sunken',- and he shared those photos with us. As usual, Keith's filing system allowed him to find the stuff much faster than mine - and at the moment I'm awaiting the reports of the arrival of the tsunami onto the west coast of Oregon, wondering how many of the sites I've visited might go under. I'm also curious as to what effect it will have, if any, on cruise ships along the coast. Some friends of ours are currently on a trans-canal cruise, but I have no clue as to where their ship is today, but I'm curious as to whether this event would affect ships.

Ships at sea would not be affected. The tsunami in deep water is a one foot wave, hardly noticeable. If the ships are docked or approaching shallow water, they would have a problem. I would guess that ships scheduled to arrive at a west coast port would remain at sea until things settled down. Just guessing, but that's what I would do, err on the side of caution.

Thanks

I was searching news and found many articles but no pictures. I was curious of both accidents. Mainly as to how bad she was hurt. Thanks for the photos.

1st. M.Q. Accident

The M.Q. was hit by a large bulker just above Hooker-Taft at 0305. She was hit just aft of mid-ship on the Port side. Several sections of outter walkways were bent, gunwhales damaged and an apporx. 18' gash in the hull, just forward of the Eng. Rm. door. This gash was just above the water line.
The boat was grounded at the Bonnie Carrie spillway entrance as a precaution.
Several bumps and such but no major injuries. Much of this was due to the time and most people were in bed.
Vessel on vessel contact in the dark is very spectaular. Much sparking, loud screech of bending and tearing steel. The M.Q. laid over to Stbd. I remember the river looking very threating out the Stbd. Wheelhouse door, as the bridge wing light was on. She righted and then rolled to Port. Several smaller rolls each way and then righted.
Certainally had my full attention and amazed me later at all of the different details one can take in, in just a few seconds.
I was not aboard when she was hit by the towboat. Understand Capt. Dave Williamson, mate at that time, is a store house of information about that event.

Judy Patsch;24909 wrote: ... and at the moment I'm awaiting the reports of the arrival of the tsunami onto the west coast of Oregon, wondering how many of the sites I've visited might go under. I'm also curious as to what effect it will have, if any, on cruise ships along the coast. Some friends of ours are currently on a trans-canal cruise, but I have no clue as to where their ship is today, but I'm curious as to whether this event would affect ships.

They are currently at sea south-bound bound for Fuerte Amador, an island near Panama City, Panama. Their ship's webcam, which can be found on Queen Victoria Bridge Webcam : Luxury Cruise Ships : Cunard Cruise Line - Cunard, shows a calm Pacific Ocean.

Calm waters

Thanks for the info Frank. It also appears that all my Mo's Restaurants along the Oregon coast are fine, as there was little noticeable tsunami action there. But, better to be forewarned and have time to get out vs. the Japanese fate today.

*RE: Calm Waters'/Panama Canal*
Judy, I immediately thought of your family living out on the coast today when I viewed the horror now unfolding in Japan. Totally surreal and no Hollywood disaster movie could produce scenes like that. It shows again how fragile is the planet earth and human life.

The locks on the Panama Canal: Gatun locks, San Miquelle, Milla Flores, were built in 1914 with two sets of folding 'V' lock doors in each chamber in case of a ship that runs away or other incidents. Panama City, Panama, on the Pacific Coast narrows down in a kind of estuary to the first locks that could in some cases funnel inrushing water. The new $5,000,000,000 addition of new larger, wider locks for bigger ships, will have 'sliding' lock doors coming out from the side, not 'folding' like now. The old locks will remain in place. Target date for completion is 2014-the 100th year of the original canal. From what I saw the other week they have a tremendous amount of work ahead just in excavating down. A new plan to conserve and recycle canal chamber discharge water will, hopefully, save fresh water Lake Gatun from being stressed too much by the larger locks. If it wasn't for the tropical rain forest and fresh water Lake Gatun there would be no canal. One incredible undertaking back then and today. A 'must see' for all if you get a chance. My next goal to navigate the Suez Canal if things ever stabilize in that region.

Our own Great Lakes have a rare near tsunami phenomenon due to prevailing winds, barometric pressures as Pete Sisak and I are aware. Doesn't happen often but something to see when it does. Water came in off Lake Michigan rising slowly but steadily holding for some minutes before subsiding out with a rush. The Native Americans knew about it but I can't recall their linguistic term. Once seen, never forgotten.

R. Dale Flick, Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Thanks, Fred, for the first-hand description of the incident you witnessed. There is nothing like hearing the commentary from someone who was actually there. I wish Captain Dave was available to tell us the story about the other incident. I'm such he would tell an interesting story that would illuminate the pictures others have shared.

It's often the quick thinking of unsung heroes who save the day in those few seconds when the rest of us are trying to make sense of those images rolling by in such a spectacular way so quickly. Rarely do they take--or are they given--the credit for the years of experience and training that went into that immediate response that means the difference between minimizing the damage and disaster.

There was an excellent account of the MQ sinking in the S&D REFLECTOR maybe 6 months after it happened. The report included exerpts from the Coast Guard report, told about all events leading up to the accident, how the Chief came to the Captain "wet to the knees" and told him to find somehwere to run aground, and on adn on. Not only was this a highly informative and entertaining read, it was full of technical info. that a working pilot can fully appreciate. Best accident report I've ever read. I highly recommend it.

Now, having said that, as a board member of S&D I OUGHT to have a set of REFLECTOR indexes, and I do not. Maybe someone can tell us what issue this report was in. Those interested in this incident can then order that issue from the President. And, if anyone reading is not a member of S&D, why not? Join up for all kinds of good stuff!

March, 1986 issue, Volume 23, Number 1.

Thank you, Sir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

I look at them on the Delta Queen. From what I have looked at and heard on here I will do just that.