Emma Rose Delivered To Bellaire Harbor Service

From June 29 to July 2, 2026, a small crew delivered the newly renamed Emma Rose from BB Riverboats’ landing at Newport, Ky., Ohio River Mile 470, to Bellaire Harbor Service at Mile 92.

The 52- by 18-foot, 600 hp. boat was built by Humboldt in 1974 as the Ory M and was later renamed Rooster and Gracie M. Recently acquired by BB Riverboats, it was taken to Bellaire for drydocking.

Since the Emma Rose is a “dinner bucket”-style workboat with no quarters, a former passenger barge was taken along to provide accommodations for the crew during the short trip. The crew consisted of Capt. Kerry Snowden, port captain for BB Riverboats, as master; Capt. David Smith, pilot; Matthew Newbauer, engineer/mate; and Capt. Alex Schuchter, deckhand.

Upon arriving at Bellaire on July 2, Newbauer wanted a photo of the crew standing in front of the shop boat in service there. The vessel is quite special to anyone affiliated with BB Riverboats because it served for many years as the floating restaurant Mike Fink at Covington, Ky.

It began life as the steam sternwheel towboat John W. Hubbard, built by Dravo for Campbell Transportation in 1936. Campbell merged into Mississippi Valley Barge Line, and the boat was sold to The Ohio River Company in 1947. It was renamed Charles Dorrance in 1950.

The Dorrance was retired in 1957 and used as a landing boat for a few years before being sold to Capt. John Beatty, who converted it into a floating restaurant, first at Cincinnati and later across the river at Covington, Ky., where it became a popular venue.

It was sold to the Bernstein family in 1977. The family operated it until 2008, when it was closed for a complete renovation, including a new hull. Unfortunately, by the time the costly hull work was completed, economic conditions made it unfeasible to restore the restaurant to operation at Covington. After several years, the gutted vessel was sold to Bellaire Harbor Service.

Featured photo caption: Emma Rose and tow upbound below Marietta, Ohio. (Photo by Capt. C.R. Neale)