Branson Duck Boat Canopies: Cut Open Or Closed?

On July 19, 2018, a duck boat tour in Branson, Missouri, turned tragic when the boat capsized on Table Rock Lake, killing 17 of the 31 people on board. The accident has brought attention to the safety of duck boats, specifically whether the canopy should be removed to make it easier for passengers to escape in an emergency. The canopy was found to be a contributing factor in the deaths, with unused life jackets tangled in the top, and preventing passengers from escaping. This is not the first time that duck boats have come under scrutiny, with over 40 deaths linked to them since 1999. Despite this, duck boat tours are set to return to Branson in 2022, with a new company, Branson Duck Tours, claiming their vessels are unsinkable.

The canopy trap: Why were passengers unable to escape?

On July 19, 2018, a duck boat operated by Ride the Ducks sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, leaving 17 people dead. The tragedy has raised questions about the safety of duck boats, specifically regarding the role of the canopy in preventing passenger escape.

The canopy, a continuous roof over the passenger cabin, has long been identified as a design flaw that can trap people when a duck boat sinks. This concern was first raised by regulators after a similar incident in Arkansas in 1999, where 13 people lost their lives. Despite this, the industry has been reluctant to remove the canopies, citing the benefits of protecting customers from the elements and enabling climate control within the cabin.

In the case of the Table Rock Lake accident, a witness's video of the duck boat just before it capsized suggests that the flexible plastic windows may have been closed, trapping the passengers inside as the boat sank. The canopy's low clearance made it difficult for passengers to escape, contributing to the tragic loss of life.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigated the Table Rock Lake accident, has repeatedly warned about the dangers posed by the overhead canopies of duck boats. Their investigations concluded that the fixed canopy and closed side curtains impeded passenger escape and likely led to a higher death toll. These findings align with those from the 1999 Arkansas incident, where the canopy was identified as a contributing factor to the deaths.

Following the Table Rock Lake tragedy, there have been calls for duck boat operators to remove the canopies from their vessels. Legislation sponsored by Senator Josh Hawley, which passed in the U.S. Senate, mandates the removal of canopies from duck boats. Additionally, new duck boat companies, such as Branson Duck Tours, have emerged with a focus on safety improvements, including addressing the canopy issue. Branson Duck Tours claims that their vessels have been designed to provide more space between the wall and the canopy, making emergency escape easier.

Design flaws: Were warnings about the boats' engines and pumps ignored?

On July 19, 2018, a duck boat operated by Ride the Ducks sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, killing 17 people. The boat was a refurbished DUKW built in 1944 and extended to hold more people, a design known as a "stretch duck". An investigation into the accident revealed several design flaws that may have contributed to the sinking.

One of the main concerns raised was the presence of a canopy on the duck boat. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had previously issued warnings about the dangers posed by the overhead canopies on these vehicles. The canopy can trap people and make it difficult to escape in the event of a sinking. This issue had been highlighted by regulators after a similar incident in Arkansas in 1999, where 13 people died. The NTSB had recommended removing the canopies from duck boats, but the industry did not fully heed these warnings.

Another design flaw identified was the venting of exhaust from the motor out front and below the waterline. According to private inspector Steve Paul, who had inspected the duck boats for Ripley Entertainment, this design could allow water to get into the exhaust system and the motor, causing it to fail. With the motor off, the pump responsible for removing water from the hull would also stop working. This issue was specifically mentioned in Paul's written report to Ripley Entertainment in August 2017.

Additionally, the duck boats lacked reserve buoyancy, which was identified as another major flaw. The absence of sufficient buoyancy meant that the boats were vulnerable to rapid swamping and sinking when suddenly flooded. This issue had also been previously raised by the NTSB, which recommended adding additional buoyancy to prevent sinking.

In conclusion, there were several design flaws in the duck boats involved in the Table Rock Lake accident that may have contributed to the tragedy. While warnings about these flaws, particularly regarding the canopies and buoyancy, had been issued by inspectors and regulators, it appears that these warnings were not adequately addressed by the industry.

Weather warnings: Were the duck boats aware of the storm?

On July 19, 2018, a tourist duck boat operated by Ride the Ducks sank on Table Rock Lake in the Ozarks near Branson, Missouri, leaving 17 people dead. The boat was carrying 31 passengers, including several children, when it hit rough waters during a severe thunderstorm.

The National Weather Service had issued warnings of excessive winds and severe thunderstorms in the area, nearly eight hours and 45 minutes before the boat sank. Meteorologists and local residents have questioned why these warnings were not heeded, and why the boat was allowed to enter the water despite the imminent danger.

Jim Pattison Jr., president of Ripley Entertainment, the parent company of Ride the Ducks Branson, claimed that the storm "came out of nowhere". However, meteorologists had been tracking the storm for hours, and their forecasts provided sufficient lead time for the hazardous weather. The National Weather Service's severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 11:20 a.m., specifically cautioned the possibility of damaging winds of up to 75 mph. A more specific warning for Table Rock Lake was issued at 6:32 p.m., about 30 minutes before the boat capsized.

Local residents, including a 25-year Branson resident, Debbie Mohling, also stated that the storm was expected and that the boat should not have ventured out. Additionally, meteorologists from various news outlets expressed their frustration and disappointment, stating that the tragedy was preventable and that the storm did not "come out of nowhere".

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had previously issued strong warnings about the design of duck boats and the danger posed by their overhead canopies. The NTSB's recommendations after a similar incident in 1999 included adding additional buoyancy to prevent sinking and removing the canopies to allow for escape in the event of a sinking. These recommendations were not adequately addressed by the industry, and the duck boat involved in the Table Rock Lake accident had a fixed canopy that impeded passenger escape, likely contributing to the high number of fatalities.

Life vests: Why weren't life jackets used?

Life vests, or life jackets, were present on the duck boat in Branson, Missouri, but none of the passengers or crew wore them. Missouri law does not require people to wear life jackets on boats, and the captain told passengers they wouldn't need them.

Tia Coleman, a survivor who lost nine members of her family in the accident, said:

> The captain told us 'Don't worry about grabbing the life jackets, you won't need them,' so nobody grabbed them because we listened to the captain and he told us to stay seated. However, in doing that, when it was time to grab them it was too late. I believe that a lot of people could have been spared.

In the aftermath of the accident, experts debated the use of life jackets on duck boats. Some argued that the safety equipment could have made escaping the sinking vessel even harder, as passengers might have become trapped against the canopy. However, others maintained that life jackets are a normal and life-saving accessory in aquatic recreational activities, and that they increase the chances of survival.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had previously recommended that canopies be removed from duck boats and that life jackets be made mandatory until changes were made. The NTSB had identified issues with duck boats' lack of reserve buoyancy, which contributed to the high loss of life in a similar sinking in 1999.

Safety measures: What has changed since the tragedy?

The 2018 duck boat tragedy in Branson, Missouri, which killed 17 people, has led to several safety discussions and proposed measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

One of the main issues identified after the accident was the design of the duck boats, specifically the presence of canopies that impede passenger escape. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had previously issued warnings about this design flaw, recommending the removal of canopies and the addition of more floatation capacity to keep the boats afloat during emergencies. In response to the 2018 tragedy, legislation sponsored by Senator Josh Hawley was passed in the U.S. Senate, mandating the removal of canopies from duck boats. This legislation, however, did not make it through the House.

Another safety recommendation from the NTSB is to require the use of life jackets on duck boats. Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley have reintroduced federal legislation to improve duck boat safety, including mandating the use of life jackets and increasing the boats' buoyancy during emergencies.

In addition to legislative and regulatory changes, there have been efforts to improve safety at the company operating the duck boats in Branson. The company, Ripley Entertainment, settled 31 lawsuits filed by victims' families and announced that it would pay for funeral and medical expenses for those affected by the tragedy. They also stated that the Branson operation would be closed for business pending an investigation and out of respect for the victims' families.

Furthermore, a new duck boat company, Branson Duck Tours, plans to launch a "newer and safer" amphibious boat tour in Branson. The owner, Jaredan Braal, claims that their vessel, the Hydra-Terra, is "unsinkable" due to its positive-buoyancy foam-filled compartments. However, critics argue that the presence of a canopy on the Hydra-Terra remains a safety concern, despite other improvements.

Overall, the duck boat tragedy in Branson has sparked important conversations about safety measures, leading to proposed legislation, regulatory recommendations, and company-specific initiatives aimed at preventing future accidents and enhancing passenger safety on duck boats.

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