RACHEK MacBEATH RACHEL MacBEATH MSPs have jumped on board a campaign to save the Delta Queen steamboat, a historical icon of Scottish engineering.

RACHEK MacBEATH

RACHEL MacBEATH MSPs have jumped on board a campaign to save the Delta Queen steamboat, a historical icon of Scottish engineering.

In the United States, the vessel is classed as a National Historic Landmark and has cruised the southern states for more than 60 years but its licence is being withdrawn due to health and safety regulations and its future is in doubt.

The luxurious 285ft Delta Queen, with her huge stern paddle wheel, multiple decks and tall twin smoke stacks, was built at William Denny & Brothers on the banks of the River Leven in 1962. Denny were shallow draft specialists and exported river boats across the world.

Dumbarton Labour MSP Jackie Baillie has attracted the support of 15 MSPs in calling for the preservation of the Scottish-built ship.

SNP MSP Chris Harvie said: "It has a wooden superstructure and that is deemed potentially dangerous if any of the millionaires who habitually travel aboard it start smoking in bed, that's the reason they want rid of it."

Ms Baillie said: "I would want the American authorities to make sure it is licensed so people can continue to enjoy Dumbarton engineering at its finest."