NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

[phantoms]

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. -- A glass-enclosed boat carrying tourists on a senior citizens' cruise overturned Sunday on a calm lake in upstate New York, killing at least 21 people and sending more than two dozen cold and wet passengers to a hospital. <br /><br />Authorities were investigating whether a large passing tour boat created a wake that caused the accident, Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland said. <br /> Rest of story here...

 

[PAkev]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

This is an unfortunate tradgedy. Although life jackets are required to be on board, it seems they can be deemed absolutely useless if the person(s) (in this case senior citizens with walkers and wheelchairs) are physically unable to put one on in a reasonable amount of time. Although I haven't learned all the details yet, my guess is they got caught in the wake from one of the huge replica paddle steamboats that go out of the south part of the lake for dinner cruises.<br /><br />I am also guessing that some lawyers are already handing out their business cards and we will definately see lawsuits to follow.

 

[DeliveryCaptain]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

I know down here, it is the Responsibilty of Vessels Cpt. to be responsible for their WAKE..but how could it overturn, (A so-called Sea worthy vessel) Seems beyond belief, Maybe should check your Bilge more often, make certain that any water is not present?? Hull integrity is Very Important on LAKE or at SEA!! Just a thought/ AND yes, MANY Lawyers handing out Cards,as we speak!! Bill D. Ft. Myers, FL

 

[bayman]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

This happens more often that it should with large passenger boats (especially those with a somewhat narrow beam and multiple decks). What often happens is that a cool looking, large boat is passing on one side of the boat so all of the passengers rush to the that side of the boat. Sometimes it won't be that bad - but when coinciding with a sizable wake, all of the thousands of pounds of passengers running from one side to the other can create a catapult effect and flip some boats right over.

 

[Surffx]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

In most states life jackets are required for children up until age 12 or so. Maybe they should be required for people over a certian age to. Just a thought. Sorry to hear about this.

 

[bayman]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

That is a good idea Surffx. I can't say that a lot of people will like it though.<br /><br />I was on a tour boat in New York several months ago. I think you had to be a certain height to go on the boat - I don't recall any children. All of the lifejackets were kept in large containers in the middle of the boat (on both decks). They didn't give them out to anyone. I'm not fond of that methodology, though I can see that it would be a pain to give life jackets out to everyone and then get them back at the end of the tour.

 

[bayman]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Apparently, in this case it was the weight of the passengers shifting quickly to one side of the boat after the boat came upon a wake from another boat. However, it appears the passengers didn't voluntarily shift their weight.<br /><br />"survivors reported that the unfastened plastic benches moved rapidly to one side before the boat went over"<br /><br />Very sad that this happened!

 

[d.morgan]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Not trying to Monday morning quarterback, but 40+ people on a day cruise with just the Captain? Especially with the passengers being elderly/immobile? I have operated cruise/dinner boats. Owners are notorius for sailing short on these boats. Profit margin you understand! but I would think at least one crew for that size group. Might not have made a difference, but it could have helped. Add to this the Capt. was not C.G. licensed. Not requrired by NY on state waters. Just a state issued license.<br /><br />While I am on my soapbox, if the concientious boating public wants to stop this type of disaster, contact your local representatives and ask for all cruise boat operators to be held to Coast Guard standards ( sub chapter T or K) for their boats. Remember, if you are on unregulated waters, only the respective state has authority to regulate these operations. And those regulations can be very, very slim! I know! <br /><br />Capt. D. Morgan

 

[PAkev]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Two other notes from today's news indicates the boat was powering through the water bow down and suggested the boats hull had taken on water before they even left the dock. The other...Although the outcome was tragic for 20+ passengers, recreational boaters were there to help within 1-2 minutes after the capsizing incident. The local sheriff indicated they would have recognized greater fatalities if it happened on a week day when the lake was not used as much by these recreational boaters.

 

[steelespike]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

It was reported today that the benches were indeed fastened.However I wonder if the possibly slipery plastic may have allowed people to slide<br />if tipped far enough.Especially those that may not be able to respond to unusual movements.

 

[bayman]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Now they are saying that the weight of the passengers may have been an issue. The USCG still has the average weight of passengers set at 140 lbs. That simply isn't the average any more in the U.S. so a lot of calculations could be off.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

{quote]... physically unable to put one on in a reasonable amount of time.[/quote]<br /><br />There's no way even the fittest person could obtain and safely don a lifejacket at the moment a boat full of screaming and panicking people overturns!<br /><br />The only place for a lifejacket on a boat is fitted to a person.<br /><br />It should be mandatory that lifejackets should be WORN AT ALL TIMES. No excuses - no objections. <br />If you won't wear one, you don't come on the trip.

 

[DeliveryCaptain]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

I have to SIDE w/ Cpt. Morgan on this One! He wrote: "One Crew Member with the Captain would have Helped, also> that NY state Law does Not Require Operator to Be Licensed??" This is LUDRICROUS on Their Part, just think of the Basic Rules of Road which could have Saved Many In this Incident!! I have Also Run a Large Tour boat here in N. Naples, FL and Many times took out Elderly, Been on GULF and Other Venues..Wakes, weather..BUT I am Still confused on this ONE> IF this Guy had some Help/CREW! It WOULD have Saved Lives.. OK< now I am off MY SOAPBOX>> Bill D. Ft. Myers, FL

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Bayman:

though I can see that it would be a pain to give life jackets out to everyone and then get them back at the end of the tour.

Maybe I'm blowing too hard here, but what is the point of a lifejacket kept in a box?<br /><br />Because of that, there are now twenty one people in boxes. <br /><br />Ok - it's a big pain at the time. But who would say, 'I've got a car seatbelt. If I see an accident coming, I'll put it on!'

 

[d.morgan]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Stillfishing I agree. If you are going to operate a cruise venue with that type of boat, I would like to see auto-inflating Sospenders required for every passenger. Unfortunately money becomes more important than saftey with some of these operators.

 

[dutch135]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Possibly another crew member could have helped, and possibly folks wearing life jackets also, but some reports stated that many of the victims were trapped in the boat as it went over and down.. and they drowned. <br />Maybe it should be mandated that folks that can't swim due to physical limitations, handicapped, or in wheel chairs, should be fitted with life jackets before boarding. <br />I'm sure they will find the real cause of this, whether overloading, or taking on water, or whatever, and it will drive some changes in ratings and safety procedures in the future.

 

[prowlersfish]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

I need my six pack to take out 6 people or less <br />but in NY I can take out 40 people with no lic.<br />somthing wrong here ?? I cant take out more then 6 people unless I get the boat certifed by the CG and they had 40 ? bett the boat never had a staybilty test <br /><br />Paul

 

[d.morgan]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

Probably not Paul. Remember, the lake in question was state regulated. Also all the regulations in the world are useless unless enforced. Just like my local lake, cruise boats operate with minimal inspections and little regulation. These are accidents waiting to happen.

 

[chuckz]

Re: NY Tour Boat accident kills 21

The NTSB started to perform a stability test on the sister ship. They calculated the boat should of had the capacity for eight barrels of water, based upon the USCG capacity rating. After three barrels of water the craft became so unstable they stopped the test.