(More) The vessels are part of NorthLittle Rock’s North Shore Maritime Center, which also includes the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum and USS Razorback submarine.
The Parrot closes during colder months but had been scheduled to reopen in mid-April. Odell and others had been stocking it for the approaching season. When he left at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, Odell said, “everything seemed fine.”
North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Hays said officials will have to wait until the barge is lifted out of the water to find out what caused it to sink.
“The only thing we can think is that there was a significant failure of the hull or somehow a water pipe busted or got turned on and the pumps in there didn’t work,” Hays said. “It’s sort of baffling, to be honest, as to how she could sink that fast.”
As the Parrot sank, the cables mooring it to the Patriot came loose, but Odell said the Patriot was not in any danger. Thursdaymorning, North Little Rock employees were working to secure the Parrot to the shore.
Hays said the city was exploring whether an area company would be able to hoist the barge out of the water, but Odell saida barge would likely have to be called in from the Mississippi River, which would take at least three weeks.
He said he was hoping the Parrot could be repaired before its season ends in October. Arkansas Queen cruises will not be affected, he said.
Odell said the repairs will likely cost well over $100,000. City officials said the cost will be covered by insurance, which has a $5,000 deductible and $500,000 limit.
Although the city owns thevessels, the riverboat company has spent more than $300,000 renovating the Parrot and Patriot since it began leasing them in 2005, Odell said. (More)
Special thanks to Argenta News for providing this radio jingle about the new Rusty Parrot Bar.
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