Nostalgic Vessel Hits Troubled Waters

A piece of river sailing Americana may come to a stop, and that's making many people sad. The Delta Queen may soon be permanently docked.

Passengers boarded the rare steam powered paddle wheel boat in Chattanooga today, perhaps for the last time. It has a steel hull, but it is wooden from the deck up. The Coast Guard says the 81-year old vessel has always been "unsafe" because of fire hazards, but Congress has granted an exemption until now..

The votes are not there now to keep it sailing, but folks are rallying to save the Delta Queen.

Duffy Hudson said, "This is the real deal, this is one of six steam engine paddle wheels that are left in the country. This is Mark Twain's time, this is that touchstone. It's getting in touch with that, saving those historical markers."

Mr. Hudson says there IS a movement to start a petition and a website to save the Delta Queen, which docks in New Orleans.

Right now, the bill is stuck in Congress without enough votes to get the exemption.