News

Deadly accident in 2016 prompted safety changes for Mass. duck boats

A duck boat that capsized on a lake in Branson, Missouri Thursday has left at least 13 people confirmed dead and others still reported as missing.

The cause of the accident is under investigation but a line of thunderstorms was reported in the area at the time the duck boat, run by tour operator Ride the Ducks, capsized.

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Missouri officials giving update on Branson duck boat accident that left at least 13 dead.

Posted by Boston 25 News on Friday, July 20, 2018

The duck boat involved in this accident is similar to the amphibious vehicles that operate around Boston.

Boston Duck Tours changed their safety policies in 2016 after one of their vehicles hit and killed a woman riding a scooter near Boston Common.

A new 2017 law requires all duck boat operators to separate the responsibilities of driver and tour guide, and the vehicles must be equipped with blind spot cameras and proximity sensors.

A spokesman for Boston Duck Tours said in a statement, "The safety of our guests and our employees is our number one priority and will continue to work closely with our partners at the US Coast Guard, Department of Public Utilities, Boston Hackney Division and Department of Transportation to ensure we maintain these safety standards."

The statement also hinted at weather conditions as a possible factor in the crash noting that "it would not be prudent for us to comment or speculate as to what may have caused the incident [in Missouri], but extreme weather seems to have been a major factor."

Boston Duck Tours says it operates rain or shine, but notes in its policy that "we may be forced to cancel either the water portion or the entire tour itself under severe weather conditions." The policy also says that full refunds are given if the entire tour must be canceled due to weather, which are "at the discretion of the Dispatcher based on the current weather conditions at the time of the tour."

Boston Duck Tours issued the following statement to Boston 25 News:

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of all those involved in yesterday's tragedy in Branson, MO.  The incident is currently under investigation, so it would not be prudent for us to comment or speculate as to what may have caused the incident, but extreme weather seems to have been a major factor.
 
We continuously monitor the weather conditions from our three locations.  We do not allow our DUCKs to go into the Charles River if there is lightning in the area or if conditions are forecasted to exceed our operating parameters set by the US Coast Guard.  Our Certificates of Inspection (COI), issued the U.S. Coast Guard, state we may not operate if winds are over 25 knots or waves over one foot.

At Boston Duck Tours the safety of our guests and our employees is our number one priority and will continue to work closely with our partners at the US Coast Guard, Department of Public Utilities, Boston Hackney Division and Department of Transportation to ensure we maintain these safety standards.
 
Thanks,
Bob