Edmonton Riverboat

The Edmonton Riverboat, formerly known as the Edmonton Queen, is a riverboat on the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The riverboat originally started to sail on the river under the name Edmonton Queen in 1995 and has become a unique Edmonton attraction.[1] The Edmonton Riverboat is 52 metres long and configured to carry 399 passengers as of 2020.[2] The Edmonton Riverboat primary operates during the summer months as the cold weather, variable river levels and the North Saskatchewan River is often iced-over throughout the winter.[2]

History
Name:
  • 1995–2018: Edmonton Queen
  • 2018 onwards: Edmonton Riverboat
Port of registry: Edmonton, Alberta
Builder:
  • Scott Steel, Sherwood Park, Alberta
  • The Riverboat Corporation
Laid down: 1992
Completed: 1995
In service: July 26, 1996
Identification: IMO number: 8888886
Status: In service
General characteristics [1]
Tonnage: 750.49 GT
Length: 51.79 m (169 ft 11 in)
Beam: 12.01 m (39 ft 5 in)
Draft: 0.73 m (2 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × 350 bhp (261 kW) Cummins NTA855 marine diesel engines
  • 2 × Paddlewheels @ 18 rpm
  • 1 × 192 hp (143 kW) Volvo Penta bow thruster
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Capacity: ~399 passengers
Crew: 10

History

On 2 April 1992, Edmonton Mayor Jan Reimer would annouce a CA$3.4-million venture partially funded by the federal and provincial government to build a dock for the proposed Edmonton Riverboat.[3] Edmonton builder Scott Steel would construct the riverboat within the city, but would refuse to release the vessel, claiming he was owed $1.35-million.[3] The Riverboat was a lifelong dream of Edmonton businessmen Ray Collins who formed the North Saskatchewan Riverboat Company and prepared the boat. The North Saskatchewan Riverboat Company would fail before launching the Edmonton Queen, and the riverboat was subsequently sold to the development corporation Carrington Properties for CA$500,000 in early 1995.[3] The Edmonton Queen would eventually be launched on the North Saskatchewan River on 4 May 1995.[3]

In April 2016, the boat was sold in auction for $553,000 and underwent renovations, upgrades, and a change in name to Edmonton Riverboat.[4][5][6]

The Edmonton Riverboat has had a number of grounding and weather incidents incidents throughout its history. In July 2019, the boat became lodged on a sandbar. The 300 passengers onboard were rescued by the Edmonton Fire Department.[7] In April 2020, the boat was damaged after its hull was punctured by one of the underwater concrete pilings at dock due to rapid water level fluctuations from the spring thaw.[8][9]

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References
  1. "Frequently Asked Questions". edmontonriverboat.ca. 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  2. Markusoff, Jason (April 30, 2020). "A river runs through it: The story of the hardiest boat in Edmonton". Maclean's. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  3. Zdeb, Chris (4 May 2015). "May 4, 1995: Edmonton Queen finally launched". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  4. "Edmonton Queen Riverboat sold in auction for more than $500K". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. "Meet the new king of the Edmonton Queen". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Edmonton. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  6. Parrish, Julia (15 June 2018). "After renovation, name change, Edmonton Riverboat to sail North Sask. River". CTV News. Edmonton. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  7. Komadina, Sarah (14 July 2019). "Edmonton Riverboat passengers rescued overnight by firefighters". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  8. Snowdon, Wallis (22 April 2020). "'Like a can opener against the hull': Spring thaw leaves Edmonton Riverboat listing". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  9. Ramsay, Caley (14 July 2019). "Part of Edmonton Riverboat submerged in North Saskatchewan River". Global News. Edmonton. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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