Something You’ll Almost Never See at a Shipyard

American Cruise Lines‘ 150-passenger Queen of the Mississippi, the first Big Muddy-based riverboat built in some 15 years, celebrated a marriage on February 21. Stern and wheel were wed at Salisbury Maryland’s Chesapeake Shipbuilding, with giant crane handling the ceremony. But when QOM launches this August, the 23-ton, 28-foot-wide churning red wheel won’t be the only means of propulsion. Hidden under all that 19th Victorian charm — gingerbread trim, lacquered woods, chandeliers and said sternwheel — are a pair of Z-drive units, 1,900 horse power twin engines that will help maintain speed … especially when cruising up river.

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2 Responses to “Something You’ll Almost Never See at a Shipyard”

1. Brian
   February 24th, 2012 @ 2:32 pm

   For the dedication ceremony, I think it will be a must to have someone sing “Old Man River.”

2. Mrgap
   March 2nd, 2012 @ 5:58 pm

   At least you will never be “Down the river without a paddle.”

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