Crews Try To Keep Steamboat Afloat
The sight of a city landmark listing on its side drew a crowd of hundreds to Louisville’s Ohio River wharf Sunday morning.
Spectators snapped photographs and rolled videotape as towboats, pumps, divers and a huge floating crane were brought in to try to keep the Belle of Louisville steamboat from sinking.
A night watchman discovered the problem on the unoccupied steamboat about 7 a.m., which was about six hours after the crew left following a Saturday night cruise.
The sternwheeler, owned by Jefferson County since 1962, was built in 1914 and began her career as a freighter. It is now operated jointly with the city as an excursion boat that can accommodate up to 800 people.
On Sunday night, crews were busy trying to remove fuel and water from the boat. After they finished, divers and salvage crews were to begin looking for damage, authorities said.
The rescue efforts drew a steady stream of onlookers as police tape kept them at a distance to allow the cranes and pumps to work.