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Passenger Vessel Report Passenger Vessels: What's in Store in 2004? By Larry Pearson The passenger vessel market is a classic mature marine market. Segments of it are doing well, while other parts have literally died. For example, the overnight segment of the market saw one substantial vessel delivered in 2003 with none on the horizon for 2004. Overnight Vessels The Empress of the North, a 360-ft. sternwheeler was put into service in September working the West Coast- Alaska route. Now that ice is a problem in Alaska, the vessel is working the Columbia River system in the Northwest U.S. The vessel was the largest vessel ever built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders. Freeland. Wash, and is owned by American West Steamboat Company, Portland, Ore. Developing overnight service is the most difficult part of the passenger ves- sel industry to get established. American West has and previous companies have been in the region a long time and have a smaller version of this vessel. Queen of the West, operating on the Northwest river routes as well. The Empress of the West will resume Alaskan service in the spring. Not only is operating overnight pas- senger vessels a tough market to crack, the failure of the two 300 passenger overnight vessels built two years ago by American Classic Voyages has definite- ly put a chill on the American flagged overnight market. The fact that no one has stepped to buy these vessels out of bankruptcy for dimes on the dollar is further indication that this market is in a decline from a vessel construction standpoint. There is one overnight cruise ship under construction in the U.S. It is a 220-ft., 100 passenger vessel with 51 staterooms. The shipyard building the vessel is Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Salisbury, Md. Owner of the vessel is American Cruise Lines, Haddam, Ct. The vessel has been launched and is cur- rently in an outfitting dock at Chesapeake. To be called the American Spirit, the vessel will join the American Eagle and the American Glory on inland river voyages in 2005. The two existing vessels each have 31 staterooms and were both built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in 2000 and 2002 respec- tively. All three steam powered paddlewheel- ers of the Delta Queen Company resumed service in 2003 and one change will happen in 2004. The largest of the vessels, American Queen, will depart from its usual itinerary. Typically this vessel and its two sister ships Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen sail round trips out of New Orleans in the winter and spring and gradually work the upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as the LEFT: The Duchess of Pintail set for a luncheon cruise around the Baltimore Inner Harbor. (Photo by Duchess of Pintail) BELOW: Two of the 68-ft. 230 passenger tenders built by Island Boats head out to a RCCL cruise ship from their dock in Belize City. (Photo by Island Boats) BELOW: One of several luxury charter yachts built by Skipperliner in 2003. This 80-ft. vessel is designed for smaller markets and can hold 149 passengers for excursion and cocktail service and 65 for seated meal functions. (Photo By Skipperliner) ABOVE: The only overnight passenger vessel flying a U.S. flag built in 2003 was the Empress of the North. The vessel runs trips to Alaska when the weather is moderate and Columbia River system at other times in the year. Engineering News IhwhiwmB
