Posted on August 2, 2021
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will host three open houses onboard the Motor Vessel Mississippi:
- La Crosse, Wisconsin, Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m., at Riverside Park
- Wabasha, Minnesota, Aug. 13, 5-7 p.m., at 50 Pembroke Ave. (adjacent to the National Eagle Center)
- Red Wing, Minnesota, Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at Levee Park
The vessel will be in the region as part of the Mississippi River Commission’s low water inspection trip. The open house will provide information about the importance of the Mississippi River system and the diversity of uses and users along the waterway.
Tours of the Motor Vessel Mississippi will also be available. COVID-19 protocols will be in place. Facemasks will be required by all guests and the number of guests will be limited to 50 at a time. Backpacks and large satchels will not be allowed onboard. People who bring small purses and handbags on board may be subject to inspection prior to boarding. The main deck on the Motor Vessel Mississippi and the public hearing room have limited handicap accessibility.
The Motor Vessel Mississippi was built in 1993 by Halter Marine and is the fifth Corps of Engineers towboat to bear the name. The towboat is 241 feet long and 58 feet wide with three diesel engines providing 6,300 horsepower. The vessel spends more than 90% of its time as a working towboat for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District, moving barges, equipment and supplies on the river. It is also used by the presidentially appointed Mississippi River Commission for making its inspections of the Mississippi River and to host public hearings and events.
