Touring the Motor Vessel Mississippi

Monday, March 23, 2015

Jill Bock, Staff

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hosted an open house on March 21 for their Motor Vessel Mississippi while it was parked along the Mississippi River front at New Madrid. Hundreds of visitors took the opportunity to tour the boat which is the largest diesel towboat in the United States.

Several hundred people took the opportunity to tour the Motor Vessel Mississippi while parked at the New Madrid riverfront on March 21. The public tour was only the second ever offered by the Corps of Engineers of the boat which spends 90 percent of its time as a working towboat.
Captain Lee Hendrix helps Shakyra Robinson, 6, calculate how many more pounds of goods can be transported on a tow boat compared to a tractor-trailer truck.
Weston Woods, 3, takes a turn at the controls under the watchful eyes of Captain Lee Hendrix.
Miles Schmid is held by his father, Bryan, as he looks down on the barge below. Ella Barrett wouldn't venture quite as close to the railing.

A member of the crew of the Motor Vessel Mississippi explains to visitors that the boat is 241 feet long, 58 feet wide and is 52 feet from the water line to the pilot house.
With the help of chief engineer Michael Buie Landyn Scobey pulls the levers of the boats 6,300 horsepower engine.
Following the tour, two visitors check out maps of the Mississippi River which is traveled by the Motor Vessel Mississippi.
Visitors walk across the deck of the Motor Vessel Mississippi.
The Corps of Engineers hosted its annual spring high water tour in New Madrid on Monday.