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A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, urging the United States Congress to act with all deliberate speed to renew the exemption of the steamboat Delta Queen from the terms of the Safety of Life at Sea Act (P.L. 89-777).
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WHERAS, the steamboat Delta Queen was built in 1926 to operate as a passenger vessel in California between Sacramento and San Francisco, and later saw service in the United States Navy as a ferry for wounded being treated in San Francisco; and
WHEREAS, after decommissioning in 1947, the Delta Queen was purchased by the owner of Greene Line Steamers, underwent a comprehensive refit, and has been carrying passengers on the inland waterways of the United States ever since; and
WHEREAS, the Delta Queen has become one of the last remaining symbols of the nation's proud tradition of inland waterway travel and recreation while establishing itself as a priceless example of shipping history, typified by its recognition as a National Historic Landmark in 1989; and
WHEREAS, the Delta Queen has secured its position as one of the most beloved icons of the past in the hearts of passengers, crew and individuals who have been fortunate enough to see her throughout her decades of safe and reliable service; and
WHEREAS, the Delta Queen is economically and historically important to the many river communities she visits, including Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, both by providing visitors to the area and by showcasing the City and County, and in the process emphasizing the historic importance of our rivers to the economic vitality of the region; and
WHEREAS, the Safety of Life at Sea Act (P.L. 89-777) requires that all passenger vessels having berth or stateroom accommodations for fifty or more passengers must comply with certain safety requirements, most notably applying to fire safety; and
WHEREAS, the Delta Queen's wooden superstructure has been treated ex...
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