Large Riverboat Gets Stuck On Sandbar

The American Queen, history’s largest steamboat, got stuck on an Ohio River sandbar Sunday on its maiden voyage.

The 418-foot boat, a palace of fretwork and curlicues crowned with towering fluted stacks and a bright red paddlewheel, was headed from New Orleans to Pittsburgh.

The 262 passengers and 160 crew members remained aboard and were not in danger, the Coast Guard said. Two tugs worked to free the riverboat.

The $65 million boat pushed onto the riverbank early Sunday about 60 miles from Louisville to wait for a helicopter that was to fly over for a photo opportunity, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Eric Cain. The boat got stuck when it tried to get off the bank.

“It’s common practice for a riverboat to push into the bank when they want to hold steady,” Cain said.