LACROSSE, Wis. – The 241-foot towboat Mississippi, the Army Corps’ largest vessel on the river, will be docked for onboard public visits Thursday at LaCrosse. The open house will include information about the Mississippi River system and the diversity of uses and users along the waterway. The Corps regards the Mississippi as a floating ambassador. The boat’s hearing room can seat 115 people. Its dining room has a capacity of 85. The boat has 22 staterooms and can accommodate 150 passengers. As a workboat, it moves barges, equipment and supplies for mat-sinking operations. It also serves as an inspection boat for Mississippi River Commission during annual high- water and low-water inspections. The four-level superstructure rises 52 feet. The beam: 58 feet. Tonnage: 2,600. Crew: 36.
M.V. Mississippi. The Mississippi was built in 1993 by Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It’s the fifth Corps vessel to bear the name. Three diesel engines generate 6,300 horsepower.
August tour ports
> LaCrosse: Thursday, 5-7 p.m.
> Wabasha: Friday, 5-7 p.m.
> Red Wing: Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.