(NEW ORLEANS) — The Delta Queen is ending its 40-year run as the only wooden passenger vessel on the Mississippi River, the television station WDSU reported. The 82-year-old ship is being taken out of service at the conclusion of the 2008 season, which ends upon its arrival in New Orleans tonight. The Majestic America Line vessel’s longtime Coast Guard regulatory exemption has expired, and it can no longer carry passengers on overnight voyages.
