American Queen
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The American Queen on the Mississippi in 2015
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Name: | American Queen |
| Owner: | Hornblower Marine Services |
| Operator: | American Queen Steamboat Company |
| Port of registry: |  Memphis, United States |
| Route: | Mississippi River and tributaries |
| Builder: | McDermott Shipyard |
| Cost: | US$ 65 million |
| Laid down: | 1994 |
| Launched: | 1995 |
| Christened: |
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| Maiden voyage: | June 9, 1995[1] |
| In service: | 1995 |
| Out of service: | October 2001 |
| Fate: | operating on the Mississippi River |
| Status: | Refitting |
| Notes: | Re-sailed under American Queen Steamboat Company |
| Route: | Mississippi River and tributaries |
| Launched: | 1995 |
| Completed: | 1995 |
| In service: | January 2003[2] |
| Out of service: | November 20, 2008 |
| Fate: | sold |
| Owner: | Hornblower Global Maritime |
| Operator: | American Queen Steamboat Company |
| Port of registry: | Violet, Louisiana then Beaumont, Texas |
| Status: | owned and operated by Hornblower Global Maritime and/or the American Queen Steamboat Company[3] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Steamboat |
| Tonnage: | 3707 |
| Length: | 418 ft (127 m) |
| Beam: | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Height: | 109.5 ft (33.4 m) |
| Draught: | 8.5 ft (2.6 m) |
| Decks: | 6 |
| Installed power: | Steam engine and diesel-electric |
| Propulsion: | Paddlewheel and Z-drive |
| Capacity: | 222 staterooms, 436 passengers |
| Crew: | 160 |
American Queen is said to be the largest river steamboat ever built.[4] 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 genuine 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.[2] 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.[5]
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.[2] The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration records the ship's movement to the Beaumont Reserve Fleet on January 22, 2009.[6] As of April 2011 American Queen is under contract for $15.5 million to HMS Global Maritime, based in New Albany, Indiana.[7] 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.[8] The new operator, The American Queen Steamboat Company announced plans to return her to Mississippi River service from a port in Memphis, Tennessee.[9] She rejoined her fellow sternwheeler steamboats Natchez, Chautauqua Belle, Minne-Ha-Ha, and the Belle of Louisville. She is currently in service.
In April 2012, the 436-passenger American Queen began a season of three- to 10-night voyages out of a variety of southern and Midwest homeports, including Saint Paul, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Natchez, Vicksburg, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Memphis.
In 2012 the American Queen participated for the first time in the Great Steamboat Race.[10] 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.[11]
In 2013 American Queen was fully refurbished and expansions were made to her dining areas and public venues.
Facilities
American Queen offers guests a state-of-the-art gym and spa, The Front Porch Café, which is open 24-hours a day, The River Grill & Bar, Grand Saloon for evening entertainment and the J.M. White Dining Saloon, which is the vessels main dining area.
See also
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Queen (ship, 1995). |
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