The Duck Boat Industry Treads Dangerous Waters

Washington D.C. residents see the duck boats traveling across the Potomac River nearly every day, full of excited tourists ready to view the city from afar.

Safety experts have long warned the vessels, which travel across both land and water, have major flaws. But a deadly accident last month has clearly demonstrated the need for future changes.

The Tragedy

On July 19, a duck boat carrying 31 passengers set out from Tabletop Lake, Missouri. Instead of beginning its tour on land, as the normal routine did, the crew was told by an unknown source to start the trek on water.

The duck boat hit the water 23 minutes after The National Weather service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area. The day prior to the accident, The Storm Prediction Center warned of the impending weather.

Recordings assessed by Washington D.C.’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials indicate the storm began five minutes after the boat entered Tabletop Lake. Unfortunately, the high waves and intense winds caused the boat to capsize.

One crew member and 16 passengers drowned.

Tia Coleman, who was on the boat when it capsized, lost 9 family members. Only she and her nephew survived.

Questionable Safety Standards

Duck boats were created after Pearl Harbor to carry personnel and supplies to ships without port facilities. Eventually, they made their way into tourism.

Past incidences have caused experts to raise concerns about duck boat safety. According to news correspondent John Yang, “Since 1999, more than two dozen other people have died in duck boat accidents both on land and on water.”

In response to previous accidents, NTSB members urged operators to undergo several safety recommendations, one of which was to remove the canvas tops found on most duck boats. As in the case of the Missouri tragedy, these tops trap passengers beneath it when a boat sinks.

The heavy weight of duck boats causes the vessel to sink rapidly, trapping passengers as it is pulled underwater.

“Boating is an excellent hobby and pastime, but undertaken irresponsibly it can lead to horrible tragedies,” says a spokesperson from the Law Offices of Ogle, Elrod & Baril PLLC.

Peter Goelz, the managing director of NTSB in the nineties, referred to the boats as “virtual death traps” in an interview with PBS.

The companies in charge of the vessels are currently being sued.

D.C. Reactions

News of the incident spread quickly, spurring D.C. investigations and a proposed bill by Senator Clair McCaskill to regulate safety standards.

When tourists at a local duck boat attraction were asked for their thoughts, many claimed to have heard about the tragedy but had faith the operators were following all regulations.

Unfortunately, those regulations may not be safe enough.

Survivor Tia Coleman said in an interview, “Since I have had a home, it has always been filled. It has always been filled with little feet and laughter and my husband. I don’t know how I am going to do it.”