Exclusive:Fears for future of historic steamboat that carried presidents and princesses

But now, the future of an historic Dumbarton-built steamboat has been thrown into doubt after its owners launched an appeal to find a buyer amid mounting repair and maintenance bills.

The Delta Queen, built by the West Dunbartonshire town’s famous William Denny & Brothers shipbuilding firm in 1926, occupies a precious place in American maritime heritage as the last remaining historical steamboat capable of embarking on overnight cruises.

With her elegant mahogany and oak interiors and spacious lounges, the vessel played host to some of the most prominent public figures of the 20th century, including US presidents Jimmy Carter, Harry Truman, and Herbert Hoover, and Hollywood stars including Marilyn Monroe and Errol Flynn.

The steamboat, designated in the US as a national historic landmark, has been docked in the Louisiana city of Houma since 2015 after a successful campaign to save her from the scrapyard saw her towed south from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Having steered her clear of the scrappers’ torch, the revived Delta Queen Steamboat Company (DQSC) sought funding to refurbish the ship so that she could again carry overnight passengers. But those plans were waylaid by the pandemic and Hurricane Ida, a category storm that damaged the Delta Queen’s roof, along with several doors and windows.

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The team behind the DQSC have put the vessel up for sale in the hope that a buyer can go one step further and safeguard her future, but so far, a deal is yet to be ratified. The worst case scenario, according to Phillip Johnson, the firm’s managing partner, is that the Delta Queen’s storied history comes to a sad end.

“We have received dozens of inquiries ranging from converting the boat to a fishing camp to returning her back to her west coast origins in California and everything in between,” Mr Johnson told The Scotsman. “We have and continue to investigate each proposal searching for the one that appears to have the greatest chance of success in preserving the Delta Queen intact. While the vessel still has not sold, we remain hopeful a positive outcome is on the horizon.

“In the event we are unable to find a buyer to carry the Delta Queen forward we could be faced with the grim reality of dismantling her and selling off the pieces - a morbid and highly undesirable outcome we have all worked for years to avoid.”

It has been estimated that the repair bill, which would include the replacement of the ship’s boilers, and the installation of new generators, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning, would sit somewhere between £7.5 million and £9m.

The race to save the steamboat is also hindered by the fact the clock is ticking on a temporary exemption for fire safety rules that was granted by the US Congress so as to allow the wooden-hulled vessel to operate again as an overnight passenger ship. That so-called Safety of Life at Sea exemption is due to expire in 2028, and it understood any renewal depends on substantial and costly improvements being made.

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The pull of history may play a part in enticing a buyer to come forward. During World War II, the US Navy requisitioned the Delta Queen, painting her grey under the somewhat inelegant designation, ‘Yard Ferry Boat 56’. She was used to carry wounded reservists in San Francisco Bay, and after decommissioning in 1947, she made her way to the Mississippi, where to the lively soundtrack of jazz bands, she powered up and down the river.

There is an acceptance that those glory days may not return. Yet for the small yet committed band of wellwishers who hope to see a new chapter for the vessel, even if it is only as a floating hotel or museum, there is growing concern that she may disappear altogether.

The Save the Delta Queen campaign group said that despite the previous challenges faced by the vessel, the threat she now faces has “probably never been greater.” It has expressed hope that a buyer can be found in the ship’s centenary year in order to preserve her for future generations.

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“It would be a shame if a country that is so proud of its history and heritage and emphasises patriotism more than ever were unable, or unwilling, to save one of its most iconic historic monuments,” the group stated. “It’s not as if there aren’t many self-proclaimed patriots with extremely deep pockets who could easily save the Delta Queen.”

Mr Johnson said that despite such challenges, the famous 285 feet-long vessel was in reasonable condition considering her age, which he in part attributed to the craftsmanship of those who worked on her steel hull at William Denny & Brothers on the banks of the River Leven.

“The vessel remains structurally intact, and while her exterior is weathered, most notably the weather decks where supports have failed and paint has peeled away, her bones are still strong,” he explained. “Much of the interior is still in serviceable condition requiring only minor refurbishment to welcome guests back onboard.

“For a vessel quickly approaching the 100 year mark, traveling over four million miles under her own steam, and surviving a war, an ocean voyage and multiple hurricanes, I would say she looks pretty good for herself and remains a testament to those who built her both in Scotland and America.”

He added: “Like so many historic vessels, she’s endeared by many thousands of fans around the world, but as all too often is the case, just because a ship is loved doesn’t necessarily equate to large open pocketbooks full of cash.

“Saving old boats isn’t just a labor of love, it's an enormous financial hurdle. Everyone wants the Delta Queen saved, but sometimes it feels like they all want someone else to do it. After being that someone for over a decade, we must pass the baton to someone else.”