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earendel · #1 Post by **earendel** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:25 am

Once upon a time weekends used to be times for resting and relaxing. Not so this past weekend. Our sanctuary choir sang on Friday night for a state meeting being held at our church, then Saturday it was taking advantage of warm weather to do some yard work, and on Sunday it was church, meeting, handbell practice, meeting, and finally home.

This week is Derby Week in our fair city, with lots of events including a balloon race (held Saturday), a steamboat race this Wednesday, a parade on Thursday (said parade going down Broadway, a block from the building where I work so we have to vacate early), and finally the big race on Saturday. The bad news is that cool weather and rain are predicted for the first part of the week.

Oh, and with regard to the steamboat race, this may be the last one featuring the Cincinnati-based Delta Queen. The Queen has been granted an exemption to some fire regulations in the past, but not this year - the chairperson of the Senate maritime commerce committee has refused to extend the exemption, which would prevent the Queen from making overnight cruises. Currently it goes from Cincinnati to New Orleans and back, with the "Great Steamboat Race" being part of one of those cruises. If the exemption isn't forthcoming the cruises will stop and so will the race (local officials have vowed to find another competitor if this happens).

MarleysGh0st · #2 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:31 am

Is there some safety issue that would stop the Delta Queen from cruising completely?

earendel · #3 Post by **earendel** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:07 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:Is there some safety issue that would stop the Delta Queen from cruising completely?

Not that I know of, but the whole raison d'etre for the Queen is the overnight cruises (unlike the Belle of Louisville, which does local cruises only). It's too expensive a boat to maintain without the revenue of the long-distance travelers.

PlacentiaSoccerMom · #4 Post by **PlacentiaSoccerMom** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:17 am

Would it take a lot to bring the Queen into compliance with fire regulations?

MarleysGh0st · #5 Post by **MarleysGh0st** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:25 am

earendel wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:Is there some safety issue that would stop the Delta Queen from cruising completely?
Not that I know of, but the whole raison d'etre for the Queen is the overnight cruises (unlike the Belle of Louisville, which does local cruises only). It's too expensive a boat to maintain without the revenue of the long-distance travelers.

So what's the regulatory difference between day cruises and overnight cruises?

earendel · #6 Post by **earendel** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:28 am

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Would it take a lot to bring the Queen into compliance with fire regulations?

Evidently so, since the owners have gone the "exemption" route rather than the "compliance" route. I don't know what all is involved.

earendel · #7 Post by **earendel** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:29 am

MarleysGh0st wrote:
earendel wrote:
MarleysGh0st wrote:Is there some safety issue that would stop the Delta Queen from cruising completely?
Not that I know of, but the whole raison d'etre for the Queen is the overnight cruises (unlike the Belle of Louisville, which does local cruises only). It's too expensive a boat to maintain without the revenue of the long-distance travelers.
So what's the regulatory difference between day cruises and overnight cruises?

I'm not sure, but it probably has something to do with fire exits - on day cruises most people will be on deck, whereas on overnight cruises they will be in cabins during the night. The Belle of Louisville has no cabins, just several decks for food and partying (mostly dances).