Duck Boats Involved in 31 Incidents in 2 Years

Ducks boats were back in the Delaware River Friday

The same day as Ride the Ducks tested some of their boats in the Delaware River, a report surfaced about the company's past. 

Philadelphia's Streets Department failed to compile safety reports for tour vehicles like the amphibious boat that sank in the Delaware River earlier this month, killing two Hungarian tourists.

The department never assembled reports about incidents since it was first required in 2006.

The reports would have included information on traffic violations and land and water accidents for tour vehicles including the type of duck boat that sank after being struck by a barge while stopped in the river.

On Friday afternoon around 1:30 RTD took a few duck boats into the river as part of a routine vehicle inspection. The goal of the tests and others were to work towards returning the Ducks to the Delaware.

No timetable for a permanent return to the river was made. RTD said they were working with the coast guard to "resume normal operations."

As for the reports surfacing -- Deputy Streets Commissioner Steve Buckley told KYW current staff that he was unfamiliar with the code.

Officials found that duck boats were involved in 31 incidents in 2008 and 2009, Buckley said. None of the incidents involved injuries.

He said the department is looking for the data for 2007 and 2006.

The city should have compiled those incidents into a report, said Streets Department spokesman Andrew Stober.


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