Apr. 20, 2011 (UPI NewsTrack) -- PHILADELPHIA, April 20 (UPI) -- Duck boats are returning to the streets of Philadelphia and the Delaware River this week under new rules drawn up after a fatal collision.
The regulations negotiated between Ride the Ducks and the Coast Guard require the boats to stay within 100 feet of the shore and to stay out of the water if a large vessel is approaching the area, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Tuesday. The amphibious vehicles will spend only 15 minutes in the water instead of a half hour.
Two Hungarian visitors were killed in July when a barge drawn by a tug collided with a duck boat. The duck boat's captain had anchored because smoke was coming from the engine.
Ride the Ducks has also agreed to stop giving tourists plastic quackers, which irritated residents of Philadelphia's historic Old City neighborhood.
The city spent several months reviewing the operator's agreement with the Coast Guard.
"Much of what we've done is really an effort to belt and suspenders a lot of the redundant safety systems that were agreed upon with the Coast Guard," said Philadelphia Managing Director Rich Negrin.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the collision. A preliminary report said the tug's lookout was discussing a family emergency on his cellphone at the time but the investigation also found problems with the duck boat operation.
(Source: UPI )
(Source: Quotemedia)
