No preview available
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDelta Queen109 RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH, COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ACT WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED TO RENEW THE EXEMPTION OF THE STEAMBOAT DELTA QUEEN FROM THE TERMS OF THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA ACT ,- -,~ WHERAS, the steamboat Delta Queen was built in 1926 to operate as a passenger vessel in California between Sacramento and San Francisco, and later saw service in the United States Navy as a ferry for wounded being treated in San Francisco; and WHEREAS, after decommissioning in 1947, the Delta Queen was purchased by the owner of Greene Line Steamers, underwent a comprehensive refit, and has been carrying passengers on the inland waterways of the United States ever since; and WHEREAS, the Delta Queen has become one of the last remaining symbols of the nation's proud tradition of inland waterway travel and recreation while establishing itself as a priceless example of shipping history, typified by its recognition as a National Historic Landmark in 1989; and WHEREAS, the Delta Queen has secured its position as one of the most beloved icons of the past in the hearts of passengers, crew and individuals who have been fortunate enough to see her throughout her decades of safe and reliable service; and WHEREAS, the Delta Queen is economically and historically important to the many river communities she visits, including Paducah, both by providing visitors to the area and by showcasing the City, and in the process emphasizing the historic importance of our rivers to the economic vitality of the region; and WHEREAS, the Safety of Life at Sea Act requires that all passenger vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for fifty or more passengers must comply with certain safety requirements, most notably applying to fire safety; and WHEREAS, the Delta Queen's wooden superstructure has been treated extensively with fire retardant materials to augment its sprinkler system; and WHEREAS, the steamboat "Delta Queen" has been granted repeated exemptions from the Safety of Life at Sea Act since 1966; and WHEREAS, the current exemption is due to expire in 2008 and, although the Delta Queen's safety record does not appear to support the conclusion that it is somehow less safe than it has been in the 41 years that it has sailed under various exemptions, Congress has yet to conform to its well established practice of acting to permit the vessel to continue its service; BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF PADUCAH, KENTUCKY: SECTION 1 The City of Paducah hereby urges the United States Congress to act with all deliberate speed to renew the exemption of the steamboat "Delta Queen" from the terms of the Safety of Life at Sea Act in order to allow her to continue the legacy of her sister ships by serving as a tangible connection between the people of the United States and their heritage of river travel. 110 SECTION 2. That this resolution shall take effect upon adoption as provided by law. ATTEST: ,~ ~~ Tammara S. Brock, City Clerk Adopted by the Board of Commissioners, November 13, 2007 Recorded by Tammara S. Brock, City Clerk, November 13, 2007 ~resoln~Delta Queen _~ /;