Duck gets hit by a barge, two missing

Jstas

Yes, you read that right.

The story is here:

http://cbs3.com/topstories/tour.boat.crash.2.1792235.html

I'd link the pictures but they have them locked down and I can't get a link to post. If someone else can, feel free to post them. But here's teh story:

Jul 8, 2010 10:53 am US/Eastern
2 Remain Missing After 'Duck Boat' Crash
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

Search efforts are continuing for two passengers who remain missing after a barge collided with a boat full of tourists on the Delaware River Wednesday afternoon.

The U.S. Coast Guard is hoping to locate two travelers from Hungary, a 16-year-old girl and 20-year-old man, missing after a "duck boat" capsized near the 500 block of South Columbus Boulevard.

"We're still searching with some hope. I have to admit hopes are fading" said U.S. Coast Guard Captain Todd Gatlin. "They could be in the boat, they could be other places, but we're still searching."

Authorities said 35 passengers were pulled to safety after the duck boat, which conducts tours on land and water, was struck by a 250-foot, city-owned barge being pushed by a tugboat at about 2:30 p.m.

"It looked the like the duck split into two and the barge rolled on over it," said eyewitness Tiffany Michaels, a tourist from Virginia who was taking photos at the time of the crash.

Prior to the crash, flames erupted onboard the duck boat, leaving it disabled in the river. Rescuers were responding to 911 calls on the fire when the collision occurred.

Captain Gatlin said 20 boats and six helicopters rushed to the scene assist rescue efforts.

Police said 11 people were taken to area hospitals and one passenger suffered a broken jaw. Nine passengers have since been treated and released. released.

Authorities said a diver was able to reach and tag the sunken vessel about 55 feet underwater. A second dive was attempted, but poor visibility and strong currents prevented further investigation.

"We are hopeful that we will recover and have an accounting for the two individuals as well as recover the vehicle that sunk," said Mayor Nutter speaking at a River-side press conference.

The U.S. Coast Guard initially closed the river between the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges, but it has since been reopened to limited traffic.

Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation and Safety Board said that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted, including a review of all communications and an examination of the line of sight during the crash.

"Our goal is to not see how fast we can do the investigation, but to be thorough and come up with explanations so this will not happen again."

The Georgia-based tour company has voluntarily suspended duck boat operations nationwide.

In a message posted on the company's site, they state they are attending to the needs of tour guests, crew members and their families in Philadelphia and will resume operations shortly.

Duck boats are amphibious vehicles used on popular sightseeing tours of Philadelphia landmarks. The tour begins at 6th and Market and enters the Delaware River at Race Street next to the Ben Franklin Bridge.

The U.S. Coast Guard said passengers are not required to wear life jackets during the tour, but life jackets are aboard the vessel and easily accessible.

Ride The Ducks began in Branson, Missouri in 1977 and expanded to Philadelphia in 2003, according to their website. Currently, they have a fleet of 90 vehicles that carry 1.2 million passengers a year nationwide.

A duck boat sank at Hot Springs, Ark., on May 1, 1999, killing 13 of the 21 people aboard after its bilge pump failed. The NTSB blamed inadequate maintenance and recommended that duck boats have backup flotation devices.

Pretty much sucks. I doubt the two missing are still alive at this point and since bodies haven't surfaced farther down river, I'm betting that they are either being drug under the barge or trapped in the wrecked DUCK underwater. I hope that they just got back to land and went off on their own.

Joe08867

Try this.





That sucks, they are probably dead. Can you imagine seeing that barge coming right at you.

bruss

oh man..thats horrible

Ron-P

In wide open waters like that I really don't understand how this could have even happened.

Jstas

The DUCK was drifting. There was a fire on the DUCK before it lost power. The tugboat operator could not see the DUCK for...well, obvious reason. The barge completely overshadowed the DUCK and even empty, they are still a couple hundred tons and hard to stop.

Amherst

The local word is the duck boat lost power drifting in front of the tug driven barge. Tug captain never saw the boat. Sad.

Edit: Didn't see Jstas had it covered before post.

cstmar01

Jstas wrote: »

The DUCK was drifting. There was a fire on the DUCK before it lost power. The tugboat operator could not see the DUCK for...well, obvious reason. The barge completely overshadowed the DUCK and even empty, they are still a couple hundred tons and hard to stop.

yep ducks in the water are small and hard to see, and if you have a boat that size coming at it from the angle he was would make it even more impossible to notice it. Sorry to hear of the loss of the 2 people though.

Ron-P

Jstas wrote: »

The DUCK was drifting. There was a fire on the DUCK before it lost power. The tugboat operator could not see the DUCK for...well, obvious reason. The barge completely overshadowed the DUCK and even empty, they are still a couple hundred tons and hard to stop.

Ok, that makes sense. I did not read the article, next time I'll do so before hand.

hearingimpared

Wow what a bummer! I hope they find the two missing but it doesn't look good.

PhantomOG

A few years ago I was in Boston and took one of the DUCK tours. Halfway through the "water" portion of the trip the engine broke down and we were stranded and drifting for about 30 minutes while we waited for another DUCK to pull us back to dock.

Looking at the pictures of the barge and tug boat mostly behind it, it seems odd that you don't see situations like this more often. I always thought tug boats pulled other ships, not pushed them.

cfrizz

From what I saw on tv, that DUCK was in a highly traveled area with lots of traffic. Those boats are too old & slow & small to be in high traffic areas.

Our DUCKS only go into the Charles River, where the most traffic they might see are other DUCKS or kayaks.

That's about all that is allowed on the Charles River.

Jstas

The DUCKS aren't old. The company that owns the DUCKS builds new ones to new standards. None of them, at least in Philly, are more than 10 years old. Also, speed had nothing to do with it. The engine failed and the duck was stranded. Yeah, maybe it's not such a hot idea but they aren't supposed to be that far out in the river either. The disabled boat was on fire and drifted out there.

cfrizz

I've taken 2 DUCK tours and both of them were WW2 originals. But we have new ones as well.

Jstas

There aren't any WW2 originals in Philly as far as I know. I had a friend who worked as a mechanic on the DUCKS in Philly and he said they had two WW2 originals but they aren't in service anymore.

Face

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/07/16/massachusetts.duck.boat.crash/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

zingo

JimKellyfan

In Charleston they have Harbour Tours, and all the equipment is junk.
( The driver did sound like that (Mel Blanc) BB cartoon mob guy / Cajun / Creole ( yeah, see )
I would imagine it is the same everywhere, just about.
Just like tractor trailers, seems like they change tires after they go flat.

Even our cars, we need to change tires at 4/32nds.

Safety First !

And save those tourist death traps to the people willing to take those chances.

Like the Vegas Helicopter rides and riding a mule over a 1000 foot cliff.
No thanks.

My best out to those that lost their loved ones.