Coast Guard Rescues 14 Duck Boat Passengers After Vessel Catches Fire

Coast Guard Rescues 14 Duck Boat Passengers After Vessel Catches Fire

The US Coast Guard rescued 14 passengers near San Francisco Bay on May 5 after their tour boat caught fire, according to an agency press release. The Coast Guard received a call from a San Francisco Duck Tour boat after smoke was spotted coming from the engine compartment. The vessel’s operator activated the fire suppression system onboard the tour boat, and all passengers were wearing personal flotation devices when the Coast Guard arrived on the scene. No injuries were reported, and the Coast Guard is investigating the cause of fire.

Ride the Ducks San Francisco spokesman Bob Salmon told the maritime industry website Workboat.com that the boat was expected to be back in service later that week. “We do routine maintenance every 250 hours and inspections every day,” Salmon said.

In July 2010, two individuals who were part of a Hungarian student group were killed when the empty 250-foot sludge barge THE RESOURCE, being towed alongside the nearly 79-foot tugboat CARIBBEAN SEA, ran over a 33-foot duck boat in the Delaware River in Philadelphia. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the families of the tourists killed in that accident agreed to a $15 million settlement last May with the companies that owned the vessels. Ride the Ducks and K-Sea Transportation Partners also agreed to pay $2 million to be split among the 18 duck boat passengers who survived.

Improper maintenance, defective components and crewmember error on duck boats can lead to devastating maritime accidents. Latti & Anderson LLP helps individuals injured in boating accidents from all over the country, and you can learn more about passenger accident and tug and barge accidents by visiting our website. If you sustained serious injuries or your loved one was killed in a boating accident, contact our firm at (800) 392-6072 to set up a free consultation or enter your information in the form on this page to let our Boston maritime trial lawyers review your case.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Boston maritime attorneys