Duck boat investigation: weather process, possible violations at center of probe

Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard told ABC 17 News Monday that their investigation into the Table Rock tragedy that killed 17 people will center on the duck boat company’s weather policy as well as possible violations.

Lt. Tasha Sadowicz said the boat that sank passed an annual inspection within the last 12 months. Once the inspection is complete, a “certificate of limitations” is then issued. The certificate places limitations on when boats can enter the water based on wind speed and height of waves.

Sadowicz said she didn’t have any specific information on the limitations, but said investigators will be working to find out if there were any violations.

She also said officials are looking into Ride the Ducks Branson’s plan for weather and what weather sources the company is using to monitor changing conditions. Furthermore, officials will be looking into the credentials of the captain.

Thursday’s tragedy isn’t the first time people have lost their lives on a duck boat ride. A mechanical failure was found to be the cause of a deadly crash in Seattle in 2015, and inadequate coastguard oversight was listed as a cause of a dunk boat sinking in Arkansas in 1999 that killed 13 people.