NBC Nightly News reports today that the Ride the Ducks attraction at Philadelphia had a serious accident on the Delaware River. One of the boats, with 35 passengers and 2 crew members, burst into flames. The engine caught fire. All passengers and crew wound up in the river. Several injuries reported, I caught something about the boat and a barge coming into contact with one another. Coast Guard assisted in rescue and clean up. Search is underway for a 16 year old girl and 20 year old man that are missing. More to come as info becomes available.
I wasn't sure so I checked the HFE Website...Ride the Ducks in Philadelphia IS A HERSCHEND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT property! My heart goes out to all passengers, crew, and HFE "family" members connected to this tragic event!
The Website for NBC News Philadelphia reports the accident occurred about 2:40pm in 10 feet of water off Penn's Landing. The Duck stalled when a fire occurred in the engine. The boat drifted 20 minutes before colliding with a barge. Nine people are reported injured. The missing girl and man reportedly are from Hungary. The most shocking thing to me in this report was word that "ALLEGEDLY" NOT ALL PEOPLE HAD LIFE JACKETS ON.
I encourage all members and guests of sdcfans.com to pray for the people involved in this event.
I just made a quick check of the SDC and HFE Websites and did not see a mention of the tragedy...I looked for information under the press section, did not see any official word. My guess is that it is too early for the company to make a statement just yet since the events are still unfolding in Philadelphia. :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
I just saw some footage on CBS. It looked like rescue footage shot from a helicopter. A horrible sight.
Here are photos of the rescue efforts: http://www.philly.com/philly/gallery/Duck_boat_crash.html (http://www.philly.com/philly/gallery/Duck_boat_crash.html)
Prayers for all those involved. From the looks of things, it could have been a lot worse in terms of injuries and loss of life.
My thoughts and prayers as well!
NBC reports today that the two are still missing...searchers are giving up hope.
Does this mean that we are going to have to wear the lifejackets now?
I did not know if it is any different with the other sites since they explain to us where the life jackets are but it is sad that in calm times we know what to do but in an actually emergency we all panic.
My mother does not swim and my girls are not the best swimmers either.
I hope the lost are found and I too will lift them up in prayers.
"Ride the Ducks" suspends operations nationwide
In a message posted on the company website, "Ride the Ducks' says it is attending to the needs of tour guests, crew members and their families in Philadelphia.
It also says the suspension of service is voluntary and that they will resume operations shortly.
IN case you were wondering :The Duck vehicles are based on the classic WWII DUKW amphibious design, first built by General Motors in 1942. The company says they build their vehicles from the ground up using "the latest in marine design and safety."
For more info go to:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7543443 (http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7543443)
From what I understand, life jackets have been optional up to this point on Ride the Ducks tours.
I personally think a nationwide suspension of Ride the Ducks tours is an overblown reaction, even if it is voluntary. NBC News noted in their stories that the last serious accident was ten years ago in Arkansas at Hot Springs (The Hot Springs attraction NOT part of HFE.) Just my opinion here.
Let me relate a little story: When the FITH accident happened in 1980, it was handled quietly at the time. Most park guests were unaware anything was going on, and the rest of park operation continued normally. When Six Flags at St. Louis had a sky tram gondola car drop to the ground (about 1978) the park management freaked out and shut the whole park down. I know a sky lift car is more visible than an indoor roller coaster attraction, but I still think there is a good, quiet way to handle a problem, and an overblown, over reaction...my feeling is the nationwide suspension of Ride the Ducks is far too much. Again, just my opinion here. I don't mean to get anybody upset.
The way it was played up in the media - my girls said I don't want to ride on the Ducks again. I told them that they should not be afraid of what might happened but be more aware of the safety precautions available to them.
I agree ceasing operations just can spread fear....unless they are going to reinspect their fleet to make sure the ride is safer.
Suspending operations will eventually play to their advantage. With the negative publicity, the company must appear to be re-evaluating their policies, and it would be disingenuous to only shut down Philadelphia and still allow others to operate as if nothing happened. I do agree, they shouldn't have to do this, but I see the other side, as well.
At least on Table Rock and Taneycomo, there are no barges to ram into a wingless DUKW.
It is the exact same protocol that Six Flags Co. used after the unfortunate Superman Tower of Power (formerly the Hellevator) accident in 2007 at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. At least 9 other similar rides worldwide (mostly on Six Flags properties) closed for inspections and protocol changes.It is smart of them.
Does anybody else think it would be a good practice, if you're drifting powerless for 20 minutes, to at some point ask ALL passengers to put their life jackets on! I know you don't want to panic folks, but it would seem like that should be standard operating proceedure in that event.
Ditto, Pastor Don!
My local news refered to the accident today, saying Ride the Ducks had suspended rides nationwide. They refered to Ride the Ducks as a Georgia based company, and there was no mention of HFE. Hmmmmmm...good P.R. in my opinion. Somebody's thinking!
They are controlling it so far and avoiding collateral damage. I haven't followed much of the news, but in what I have seen, I have only heard from "the president of the company" and "a duck-boat sightseeing cruise".
^Drifting wouldn't be worthy of a life jacket, but another craft headed your way might be.
Looks like the bodies have been found. Very sad for all; if there is any consolation, it is that the "not knowing" is over.
God bless them all. Again, please pray for these people and a successful investigation so this never happens again.
Quote from: History Buff on July 08, 2010, 06:17:17 PM
^Drifting wouldn't be worthy of a life jacket, but another craft headed your way might be.
I disagree. Obviously in this case drifting constituted a potentially dangerous situation in which they would be powerless to get out of the way of much larger craft on a very busy river like that one. By the time you realize the larger craft is bearing down on you there may not be time to don life vests. I'm just putting myself in the Captain's chair and thinking that if I were in that situation "drifting" would prompt me to say, "O.K. Folks. Just to be safe, let's put those life jackets on."
Now, I don't think that you'll ever catch me touring on the Ride the Ducks boat, but I'll make sure I keep those who are injured and missing in my prayers. :)
99.9 percent of the time, there won't be a problem with a Duck boat. I've taken a ride in one at the Branson property. I don't think you have anything at all to be afraid of. They are fun tours.
^Especially in Branson where the biggest thing you might have to worry about running you down is also owned by HFE...The Branson Belle.
I read online that the RTD driver called out on the radio to the barge to stop but they never responded...
In case anyone has wondered, HFE has officially recognized the tragedy on their website (http://www.hfecorp.com/ (http://www.hfecorp.com/)):
QuoteOur thoughts and prayers are with our Philadelphia tour guests, crew members and their families. We are attending to their needs first. In the interim, we have voluntarily suspended our Ride The Ducks operations nationwide. If you already have a reservation, you can receive a full refund or reschedule for a future date. We will resume operations shortly.
A part of this is also on the Philadelphia site for RtD, along with a notice they have suspended the attraction there. I found nothing on the other RtD sites about suspending them.
They originally suspended all Duck operations nation-wide. They resumed operations today (Saturday) in Branson, Atlanta, and San Francisco, and Newport, KY is "expected to resume soon".
Operations will remain closed at Philadelphia until further notice.
I read online these boats are built from the ground up, using modern technology, however I think St. Louis news is uninformed and stated these ARE (not these are based on) but they ARE reconditioned WWII boats......I think they are wrong....
The Hot Springs Ducks (which aren't HFE) are WWII. As for the others, I couldn't begin to say, but I'd be surprised to find that many intact DUKW survivors. Only 21,000 or so were built in the first place, the last being made in 1945. They saw use in WWII and Korea.
I have confirmed with several sources that the vehicles are NOT original to WWII.
From http://philadelphia.ridetheducks.com/experience/ducks-or-dukws.aspx (http://philadelphia.ridetheducks.com/experience/ducks-or-dukws.aspx)
| Our Ducks are based on the classic WWII DUKW amphibious design. Today, we build our vehicles from the ground up using the latest in marine design and safety. The vehicles are regularly inspected, tested & certified by the United States Coast Guard to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for our guests. Our newest model, the "Truck Duck," has been approved by the USCG Marine Safety Center for "Partially Protected Water" routes, a designation unattainable by standard WWII DUKWs in any configuration. |
The vehicle in the accident was only 10 years old
Just saw frightening footage on ABC News Overnight of the Ride the Ducks Disaster at Philiadelphia. The news story was showing how the National Transportation and Safety Board was using security camera footage from accident and wreck sites to improve safety. The Ride the Ducks footage was captured by a security camera on an aquarium along the river. The barge/tug boat that hit the Ride the Ducks vehicle could not see it because the passenger vehicle was in a blind spot for those piloting the barge/tug. The barge/tug just flat ran over the Duck like an 18 wheeler driving along an interstate highway flattens out a skunk that runs in the road! Thank God more were not killed/injured in this mishap! Perhaps if you check the ABC News Website you can find a link to this story and see the footage yourself. It was amazing!
I had not heard or seen that detail, i looked for the link and couldnt find it. IF anybody locates it please post the link here,
On a side not, but duck related. While in branson this weekend i drove by the duck parking lot on 76. I lost count at over 25 ducks all lined up and waiting for warm weather. The line up up kinda impressive,, Looked like an invasion getting ready to happen.
The tug pilot has started his 366 day prison sentence.
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Tug-Boat-Pilot-Starts-Duck-Boat-Sentence-136768533.html
I had the pleasure of fishing next to one of the duck boat mechanics this past fall. He talked about how they tested the seaworthiness of the boats after repairs were made. They launch them at a boat dock by the dam. He was astonished when he was told to drive it in the lake, and then found out that it's 250 feet deep at the dam! LOL! Hope to meet up with him again - he was an interesting fellow (and didn't catch anymore fish than I did.) :)
250ft! well.? It will either float or NOT?!! LOL!
$17 million settlement in ducks disaster! Court ruling says the families of the two people killed get to split $15 million, the other survivors split an additional $2 million. The barge operator that hit the duck is the one that is paying up for the disaster. Saw this on NBC TV today. Don't know what Herschend Family Corporation liabilities there are, if any.
Good for them!
Hopefully HFEC is free and clear of this incident, since it was clearly not their fault, and the collision could obviously been avoided by the barge.