Duck Boats' History, Past Incidents

PHILADELPHIA - The “Ride the Ducks” boats have become somewhat of a tradition since arriving in Philadelphia.

They came here in 2003 after many people had seen them in other major cities with waterfronts, such as Boston and Washington, D.C., Fox 29’s Jennaphr Frederick reported.

Wednesday’s crash was the first serious duck boat incident in Philadelphia history, Fox 29’s Jennaphr Frederick reported.

Back in 1991, 13 people were killed in Arkansas when a boat sank there.

Part of the situation with the duck boats is that, because they travel on land and on sea, they’re regulated by so many agencies.

So back in 1999 in Arkansas, the U.S. Coast Guard was blamed. The investigation there basically found that a Coast Guard inspector missed a faulty seal, and that was what led to the boat’s sinking.

The duck boat captain also now needs a Coast Guard license.

Link: NTSB Report On Amphibious Passenger Vehicle Miss Majestic Sinking Near Hot Springs, Ark.

Another thing discovered during the investigation was that the canopy on the boats, shielding tourists from rain and excessive sun, can make it difficult for passengers to escape if there is an issue.

That’s one of the reasons why, in the past, the riders have not been told they had to wear a life jacket. It can be difficult for an adult with a life jacket on to get up and around that canopy, the investigation found.

We know that many of the school districts in and around Philadelphia that have had their kids and families on these boats said the kids, when they went onto the water, had to have life jackets on.

It will be interesting to see Thursday what people say about that part of the investigation.

And, of course, everyone who saw this story yesterday and lived in Philadelphia 10 years ago thought about the Pier 34 collapse that occurred just a short distance away from Thursday’s boat crash. Three people at the Heat nightclub were killed when that pier fell into the water.

"Good Day" spoke later Thursday morning with the lead attorney on that case, defense attorney Tom Kline , about some of the things that were happening underneath the water.

Another local attorney and frequent Fox 29 News contributor, Amy Feldman, spokes to “Good Day” about the calls for change that may come after Wednesday’s crash (watch video above).