I think there is a misconception about the word “permanent” in the context of the Army Corps of Engineers permit to moore the Delta Queen “permanently”. We’re talking about a bureacratic act; one of many permits necessary to operate a hotel business on the Delta Queen. “Permanent” here doesn’t mean “for the rest of our lives”, it’s just the contrary of just having two or three loose lines for a temporary port stop for a few hours.

Very understandable, authorities will not allow a hotel business on a boat that’s not moored very tightly to make sure it doesn’t turn loose in a storm or flood. We’ve talked to the construction firm who is building this mooring facility – what they’re doing is just welding a few mooring rings or such to the DQ so she can be connected to the mooring facilities tightly, i.e. in bureaucrat’s language “permanent”. This easy to be removed and doesn’t touch the DQ’s integrity as a cruise vessel at all.

Also, don’t mix up this permit to permanently moor the Delta Queen with the official status of a Permanently Moored Vessel (PMV), assigned by the Coast Guard. (Maritime Safety Manual, Vol. II Chapter B4-44).