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From page 13... ... 13 Safety experts have known for a long time that DUKWs have had hazards that can increase the risk of loss of life for passengers and crew. Some hazards are connected to obsolete design elements unique to an amphibious vehicle that must travel safely on land and water. Read the entire page →
From page 14... ... 14 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS Recommendations stemming from the major casualty events in the United States and United Kingdom are reviewed. The chapter closes with an overview of the concept of survivability with respect to both the vessel and the persons on board. Read the entire page →
From page 15... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 15 Amphibious passenger vehicles (APVs) must operate safely both on land and on water. Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... 16 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS crew moving around the vessel would increase the rate of flooding. Moreover, WWII DUKWs and Stretch Ducks may have a freeboard as low as 12 inches. Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 17 the operators "likely believed," according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) , that they "could safely complete the waterborne portion of the tour before the thunderstorm arrived." Instead, the weather suddenly shifted and large waves, which exceeded the vessel's operating limits, led to progressive flooding. Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... 18 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS concluded that the fire started when overheated machinery ignited the buoyancy foam, which was tightly packed into the hull and had become contaminated with grease. Upon noticing the fire, the master maneuvered the DUKW close to the shore. Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 19 two major DUKW tour operators, Original Wisconsin Ducks and Dells Army Ducks. As of early 2021, 58 DUKWs had an active COI, the majority of which were Truck Ducks. Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... 20 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS TABLE 2-1 Summary of NTSB Subchapter T Small Passenger Vessel Accident Reports from 1995 to 2021 NTSB Report Name and Accident # Date of Accident Type of Vessel Inspection Subchapter Type of Accident Deaths Injuries Total Number Onboard P/V Conception (DCA19MM047) 9/2/2019 Overnight T Fire in Accommodation Space 34 2 38 P/V Stretch Duck 7 (DCA18MM028) Read the entire page →
From page 21... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 21 TABLE 2-1 Summary of NTSB Subchapter T Small Passenger Vessel Accident Reports from 1995 to 2021 NTSB Report Name and Accident # Date of Accident Type of Vessel Inspection Subchapter Type of Accident Deaths Injuries Total Number Onboard P/V Conception (DCA19MM047) 9/2/2019 Overnight T Fire in Accommodation Space 34 2 38 P/V Stretch Duck 7 (DCA18MM028) Read the entire page →
From page 22... ... 22 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS TABLE 2-2 Number of DUKWs with Active COIs by Type and Route, 2019 and 2021 WWII Stretch Duck Truck Duck Total Water Body of Route 2019 2021 2019 2021 2019 2021 2019 2021 Rivers 19 5 32 1 30 28 81 34 Lakes, Bays, & Sounds 17 13 9 2 16 9 42 24 Total 36 18 41 3 46 37 123 58 WWII Stretch Duck Truck Duck Total Type of Waters of Route 2019 2021 2019 2021 2019 2021 2019 2021 Protected Waters 36 18 39 3 22 21 97 42 Partially Protected Waters 0 0 2 0 24 16 26 16 Total 36 18 41 3 46 37 123 58 SOURCE: USCG, Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) database. Read the entire page →
From page 23... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 23 BOX 2-3 Key Regulations: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46 Shipping, Volume 7, Chapter I Coast Guard Subchapter S, Subdivision and Stability • Part 170 Stability requirements for all inspected vessels o 170.170 Weather criteria o 170.173 Criterion for vessels of unusual proportion and form • Part 171 Special rules pertaining to vessels carrying passengers o 171.050 Passenger heeling requirements Subchapter T, Small Passenger Vessels (under 100 gross tons) • Part 175 General provisions o 175.400 Definitions of terms used in this subchapter • Part 176 Inspection and certification o 176.110 Routes permitted • Part 177 Construction and arrangement o 177.500 Means of escape o 177.820 Seating • Part 178 Intact stability and seaworthiness o 178.310 Intact stability requirements -- general o 178.330 Simplified stability proof test (SST) Read the entire page →
From page 24... ... 24 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS these alternatives provide an equivalent level of safety. DUKWs, because of their unique design, typically cannot meet all of the Subchapter T regulations directly. Read the entire page →
From page 25... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 25 USCG justifies standards that allow more cramped conditions in the passenger compartment of DUKWs through another guideline that stipulates the primary means of escape is over the side of the DUKW. Because of this, the narrow aisle width and tighter seating are not considered unacceptable safety hazards by USCG. Read the entire page →
From page 26... ... 26 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS TABLE 2-4 Number of Reported Casualty Types, 1999–2021 Casualty Type WWII DUKW Stretch Duck Truck Duck Total Abandonment 1 1 Allision 1 2 3 Collision 2 2 Discharge/Release - Pollution 1 1 2 Fire - Initial 2 2 4 Flooding - Initial 3 4 6 13 Flooding - Progressive 1 1 Fouling 2 1 3 Grounding 10 4 5 19 Loss of Electrical Power 2 4 3 9 Loss/Reduction of Vessel Propulsion/Steering 25 105 90 220 Material Failure/Malfunction 17 89 104 210 Set Adrift 4 1 5 Sinking 1 2 3 Vessel Maneuver 3 5 8 16 Total 64 225 222 511 SOURCE: USCG, Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) database. Read the entire page →
From page 27... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 27 Recommendations After Miss Majestic Sinking The report of USCG's Marine Board of Investigation on the Miss Majestic makes multiple recommendations and led to the creation of NVIC 1-01.12 Key recommendations in this report include: • Listed DUKW documents that should be available to operators and the OCMI, • Required in-water testing of vessel integrity after repairs to hull or appendages, • Required testing of bilge pumps with water at every USCG annual inspection, • Recommended that USCG issue policy on inspecting DUKWs' unique features with emphasis on shaft housings and boot seals (which led to the creation of NVIC 1-01) , • Recommended that USCG establish a working group of operators and industry experts to develop DUKW safety best practices, and • Recommended considering a requirement for more than one crew member on board when that crew member is acting as a tour guide. Read the entire page →
From page 28... ... 28 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS • Verify the watertight condition of the vessel at the start of each waterborne departure, and • Comply with remaining provisions of NVIC 1-01. Recommendations After DUKW34 Collision In its Marine Accident Report on DUKW34, NTSB focused its recommendations on cell phone use by safety critical personnel, as this was one of the root causes of the collision. Read the entire page →
From page 29... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 29 • Require the closure of forward hatches, • Update NVIC 1-01 to address the issue of severe weather and egress during a rapid sinking event, and • Examine training and knowledge of operators. NTSB also made three recommendations for the operator, Ripley Entertainment: • Revise current operating policy to update guidance on adverse weather operation, • Modify the spring-loaded forward hatch to enable closure during waterborne operation, and • Re-evaluate emergency procedures for donning life jackets. Read the entire page →
From page 30... ... 30 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS Survivability of all persons on board is the goal of lifesaving regulations. The examination of canopies and escape during emergencies in Chapter 5, the focus on life jackets in Chapter 6, and the review of safety operations, such as training and drills on escaping the vessel, in Chapter 7 are examples of methods to increase the survivability of all persons on board. Read the entire page →
From page 31... ... DUKW BOATS AND SAFETY 31 BOX 2-4 Higher Risk and Lower Risk Operations Related to the Vessel Design, Systems, and Operating Area Factors Leading to Higher Risk Operations • Fast Sinking Times • Low Freeboard • Lack of High-Capacity Bilge Pump • Multiple Hull Penetrations • Engine Air Cooling Vents • Potential Exposure to High Winds and Waves • High Traffic Areas • Restrictive Canopies Lower Risk Operations • None of the Factors Above • Reserve Buoyancy, Unless in High Winds and Waves Read the entire page →

From page 13...

... 13 Safety experts have known for a long time that DUKWs have had hazards that can increase the risk of loss of life for passengers and crew. Some hazards are connected to obsolete design elements unique to an amphibious vehicle that must travel safely on land and water.