Steamboat Paddlewheeler

The steamboat Natchez is 38 years old, weighs 1384 tons and carries 1233 passengers and crew. It has a 1500hp steam engine and can operate in only 5 feet of water. The cruise went for 2 hours, travelled about 6 miles down the river then back up to the bridges.

The Mississippi River is the 3rd longest in the world (behind the Nile and the Amazon). It begins in Minnesota and drains water from 31 US states, and 2 Canadian States.

Wharves damaged by Hurricane Katrina

MV Cape Kennedy (T-AKR 5083) is one of the United States Military Sealift Command's 27 Roll-on/Roll-off Ships.

The little orange boat at the stern is an escape life raft. Once the crew are aboard they pull the release handle and the boat plunges into the sea. So, they might survive a sinking tanker, but will they survive the 100 foot drop into the ocean?