Paddle steamer. Sternwheeler packet boat, Natchez, on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, USA. This is the latest in a series of paddle steamers called 'Natchez' and has a paddle-wheel at the rear or stern. Its design was based on the old Ohio River sternwheeler packets. It is 80 metres long, 13.5 metres wide and can carry 1600 passengers. It was launched in 1975 and is used for leisure cruises. Steamboats typically have oil-fired boilers to produce steam, which drives pistons to turn the paddles. The original Natchez was built in 1823, but was of the side-wheel design.