Page 58: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 1983)

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Artist's conception of the Creole Queen riverboat berthed at the 1984 Louisiana World's Fair. The new "old" boat is now under construction at Halter Marine,

Inc., for New Orleans Paddlewheels, Inc., who will operate the boat in conjunction with the Fair.

Halter Marine Building Diesel-Electric Sternwheeler

For 1984 World's Fair

What may be the newest "old" boat in the United States is under construction at Halter Marine's

Moss Point, Miss., shipyard.

There, a genuine sternwheeler with all the outward appearances of a paddlewheel riverboat of a by- gone era is rising on the banks of the Escatawpa River. Appearances can be deceiving however, as its old time outer shell encloses an ul- tramodern diesel electric propul- sion plant linked to a revolution- ary new cost-saving paddle drive system.

In making the announcement,

R. J. Shopf, president of Halter

Marine, Inc., said the new 1,000- passenger vessel, the Creole Queen, will be 189 feet long with a 40-foot beam and 8-foot depth. Her nor- mal operating draft will be 5 feet 6 inches. She will be powered by three Caterpillar D353 engines coupled to three 300-kw genera- tors. Together, they will produce 900 kilowatts of electricity for the two 350-horsepower General Elec- tric motors that will turn the paddlewheel.

The Creole Queen is being built for New Orleans Paddlewheels,

Inc., who will operate her on the

Mississippi River in conjunction with the 1984 Louisiana World's

Fair. After the fair she will be berthed permanently at the same site. "Her design, machinery, equip- ment, and appointments are a di- rect result of our own criteria cou- pled with extensive research and personal visits to nearly every boat of its type in the United

States," said Warren Reuther Jr., president of New Orleans Paddle- wheels, Inc. "We wanted a multipurpose boat that could provide unobstructed views of the New Orleans harbor for hundreds of sightseeing pas- sengers, while being able to cater three private parties at the same time," he added. "We have achieved that in the Creole Queen because she has a spacious topside prome- nade deck which can accommodate up to 125 people, and three sepa- rate dining rooms which can host parties of 300, 125, and 100 people simultaneously. Her windows are considerably larger than those on other vessels of her type to facili- tate observation and to permit

Signing a contract for a genuine paddlewheel riverboat are Joseph H. LeBlanc Jr., Halter Marine sales representative, Warren Reuther Jr., president of New Orleans Paddlewheels, Inc., and Rick

S. Rees, Halter vice president of finance. Looking on is Ralston P. Cole, Halter sales manager. 58 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News