Options for Improving the Safety of DUKW Type Amphibious Vessels (2021) / Chapter Skim
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From page 69... ...
69 INTRODUCTION DUWK tour operators typically outfit their boats with canopies to provide passenger comfort against the sun, rain, and wind. Tour operators briefing the committee stressed the importance of canopies for their tour businesses.
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From page 70... ...
70 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS in safety to no canopy. Restrictive canopies include any canopy that makes it inadvisable to wear a life jacket during the waterborne part of a tour.
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From page 71... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 71 without adequate reserve buoyancy where canopies have been removed."2 The USCG investigation also concluded "that the donning of life jackets would have prevented escape from under the canopy and led to additional deaths."3 After the Stretch Duck 7 sinking, the NTSB again concluded that the canopy and side curtains likely contributed to the loss of life and that if the passengers had donned life jackets, the life jackets "would have created an impediment to escape" that "could have resulted in additional fatalities." Of the 17 deceased, 9 bodies were recovered under water, including 1 still in the boat.4 As the storm began to hit Table Rock Lake, Stretch Duck 7's master lowered the side curtains to protect the passengers from the wind and rain. The master did not order the passengers to don life jackets when he cut short the tour and headed for shore.
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From page 72... ...
72 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS rolled up at the time of the collision because it was a nice day. Those with life jackets in hand at the time of the collision reported losing grasp of them during the sinking.
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From page 73... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 73 Despite the stipulation that passengers should escape over the side, USCG also recognizes that "this goes against human nature, which is to exit in the same manner one enters." For most DUKWs, passengers enter over the stern and will assume that the exit is also at the stern. Because of the discrepancy between ingress and safe egress locations, NVIC 1-01 stresses that "the master should give specific instructions to the passengers during the safety orientation concerning the method of escape from the vehicle."10 RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS The hazard canopies pose to safe escape applies to all small passenger vessels, not just DUKWs.
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From page 74... ...
74 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS passenger behavior. The committee highlights four of their findings and recommendations to improve canopies: 1.
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From page 75... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 75 TYPES OF CANOPIES IN USE DUKWs currently use a range of canopy designs, and many of the designs consider the decades of concerns that canopies pose a hazard to passengers in an emergency. Canopies generally consist of canvas or plastic material stretched across metal framing and supported by multiple vertical supports.
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From page 76... ...
76 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS Canopy with Rolldown Side Curtains The canopy on the Stretch Duck 7, shown in Figure 5-2, included two side curtains, each made out of a single sheet of clear plastic that could be rolled down and up as needed. Figure 5-3 shows the plastic side curtains in the down or deployed condition.
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From page 77... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 77 FIGURE 5-3 Side curtain rolled down to protect passengers. SOURCE: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR2001.
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From page 78... ...
78 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS windshield. Figure 5-6 shows an Original Wisconsin Ducks DUKW with another version of a shortened canopy, with no side curtains and open at the front and back.
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From page 79... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 79 FIGURE 5-6 Original Wisconsin Ducks DUKW with open, reduced-size canopy.
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From page 80... ...
80 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS The hatch is mentioned in the pre-trip safety orientation. Although this hatch provides a means of escaping upward and through the roof during a casualty, it only extends for a limited length of canopy.
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From page 81... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 81 FIGURE 5-9 Slide roof panels with centerline hatch, Boston Duck Tours.
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From page 82... ...
82 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS Passenger-Opened Side Windows All Boston Ducks are fitted with side curtains made of a piece of clear plastic for each window frame defined by the vertical supports. The canopy frame and supports are constructed of aluminum, and the supports provide an opening that is 4 feet 6 inches wide and 2 feet 10 inches high.
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From page 83... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 83 FIGURE 5-13 Side curtain in rolled up position, Boston Duck Tours.
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From page 84... ...
84 OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF DUKW TYPE AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS The lack of a canopy during water operations may make operating a business in colder, rainy climates more difficult. OTHER CANOPY SOLUTIONS The committee investigated potential solutions that would retain the canopy and side curtains, but still improve the ease of escape.
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From page 85... ...
CANOPIES AND ESCAPE DURING EMERGENCIES 85 too much for the crew to execute during the emergency. If the crew member is injured during a casualty, then it is even more likely the side curtains will not be released, trapping the passengers.
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