American Queen is said to be the largest river steamboat ever built. The ship was built in 1995 and is a six-deck recreation of a classic Mississippi riverboat, built by McDermott Shipyard for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. Although the American Queen's stern paddlewheel is indeed powered by a steam plant, her secondary propulsion, in case of an emergency and for maneuverability around tight areas where the paddle wheel can not navigate, comes from a set of diesel-electric propellers known as Z-drives on either side of the sternwheel. She has 222 state rooms for a capacity of 436 guests and a crew of 160. She is 418 feet (127 m) long and 89 feet (27 m) wide.
The Str. American Queen was retired to the reserve fleet in Violet, Louisiana, on 20 November 2008. Due to the failure of Majestic America Line (her owner) she was returned to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) who held her $30 million mortgage. The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration records the ship's movement to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet on January 22, 2009. As of April 2011 American Queen is under contract for $15.5 million to HMS Global Maritime, based in New Albany, Indiana. Based on the August, 2011 U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration inventory, the ship was sold on August 2, 2009, and departed the Beaumont Reserve Fleet for Memphis, Tennessee. The new operator, The American Queen Steamboat Company announced plans to return her to Mississippi River service from a port in Memphis, Tennessee. She rejoined her fellow sternwheeler steamboats Natchez, Chautauqua Belle, Minne-Ha-Ha, and the Belle of Louisville. She is currently in service.
In 2012 the American Queen participated for the first time in the Great Steamboat Race. It came in second place.
The American Queen Steamboat is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In 2013 American Queen was fully refurbished and expansions were made to her dining areas and public venues.
Video American Queen
Facilities
American Queen has a gym, spa and 24-hour café and various restaurants.
Maps American Queen
See also
- American Empress
- Delta Queen
- Mississippi Queen
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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