American Cruise Lines launches Mississippi newbuildAmerican Cruise Lines launches Mississippi newbuild

The vessel was launched into the Wicomico River, where tugboats nudged it into Chesapeake Shipbuilding’s East Outfitting Basin where the upper decks and outfitting will be completed.

'This is a significant milestone in the construction process and also for American Cruise Lines,' said Timothy Beebe, vp of American Cruise Lines. 'We look forward to introducing yet another new paddlewheeler on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.'

The launch came a few weeks after the joining of the two hull sections, each weighing almost 600 tons.

This is the second riverboat built for the Mississippi by American Cruise Lines, following Queen of the Mississippi in 2012. Two additional riverboats are also on the way.

The new boat, still unnamed, will have capacity for 150 passengers and is scheduled to begin navigating the Mississippi and its tributaries in spring 2015.