[Ted Davisson]

Greetings from New Orleans ,
I have it on good authority that the Str. Delta Queen may not be leaving the Crescent City , on the fourth of February , when first thought due to some Fuel/Boiler Issues . It was related to me that on the " Queens " last trip into New Orleans , her fuel system was not changed over to the lighter and thinner # 2 diesel but remained on the thicker Bunker C . The problem with this is that her fuel lines to her boilers still has the thick Bucker C in them and the fuel has now geled in the fuel lines and must some how be heated inorder for the lines to be cleared so that the fuel may get to the boilers inorder for them to be lit off . I am certainly no engineer and it was implied to me that this will be no small task or maintenence issue and this may result in the DQ's late departure . One other issue that is fast approaching is the weather . A strong northerly front is about to blow through and this will create very unfavorable sea conditions for the DQ to cross the open waters of the Mississippi Sound . So between the congested fuel lines and the coming inclimate weather conditions , in all likely hood the DQ will be making a late departure from New Orleans . Time will tell .
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson