Collision of Tugboat/Barge Caribbean Sea/The Resource with Amphibious Passenger Vehicle DUKW 34 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 7, 2010
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Collision of Tugboat/Barge Caribbean Sea/The Resource with Amphibious Passenger Vehicle DUKW 34 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 7, 2010 Accident Report NTSB/MAR-11/02 PB2011-916402 National Transportation Safety Board (This page intentionally left blank) NTSB/MAR-11/02 PB2011-916402 Notation 8240A Adopted June 21, 2011 Marine Accident Report Collision of Tugboat/Barge Caribbean Sea/The Resource with Amphibious Passenger Vehicle DUKW 34 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 7, 2010 National Transportation Safety Board 490 L‘Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 National Transportation Safety Board. 2011. Collision of TugBoat/Barge Caribbean Sea/The Resource with Amphibious Passenger Vehicle DUKW 34, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 7, 2010. Marine Accident Report NTSB/MAR-11/02. Washington, DC. Abstract: This report discusses the July 7, 2010, collision of the tugboat/barge combination Caribbean Sea/The Resource with the amphibious passenger vehicle DUKW 34 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a result of the accident, two passengers on board DUKW 34 were fatally injured, and several other passengers sustained minor injuries. Damage to DUKW 34 totaled $130,470. Damage to the barge was minimal; no repairs were made. Safety issues identified in this accident include vehicle maintenance, maintaining an effective lookout, use of cell phones by crewmembers on duty, and response to the emergency by Ride The Ducks International personnel. As a result of this accident investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board makes safety recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard, K-Sea Transportation Partners L.P., Ride The Ducks International, LLC, and The American Waterways Operators. The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. Recent publications are available in their entirety on the Internet at <http://www.ntsb.gov>. Other information about available publications also may be obtained from the website or by contacting: National Transportation Safety Board Records Management Division, CIO-40 490 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 (800) 877-6799 or (202) 314-6551 Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from the National Technical Information Service. To purchase this publication, order report number PB2011-916402 from: National Technical Information Service 5301 Shawnee Road Alexandria, Virginia 22312 (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000 The Independent Safety Board Act, as codified at 49 U.S.C. Section 1154(b), precludes the admission into evidence or use of Board reports related to an incident or accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report. NTSB Marine Accident Report Contents Figures .............................................................................................................................................v Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... viii Factual Information .......................................................................................................................1 Accident Narrative ...........................................................................................................................1 Emergency Response .......................................................................................................................9 Injuries ...........................................................................................................................................10 Damage ..........................................................................................................................................10 DUKW 34 ................................................................................................................................10 Caribbean Sea/The Resource .................................................................................................12 Operations Information and Events Preceding the Accident .........................................................12 Ride The Ducks and DUKW 34 ..............................................................................................12 K-Sea Transportation and the Caribbean Sea ........................................................................15 Family Medical Emergency of the Caribbean Sea Mate .......................................................17 Mate‘s Cell Phone Use ...........................................................................................................17 Mate‘s Use of Company Laptop Computer ............................................................................18 Survival Factors .............................................................................................................................18 Safety Briefing ........................................................................................................................18 Lifesaving Equipment .............................................................................................................21 Evacuation ..............................................................................................................................22 Vessel Information .........................................................................................................................23 DUKW 34 ................................................................................................................................23 Caribbean Sea ........................................................................................................................25 The Resource ..........................................................................................................................26 Personnel Information ....................................................................................................................26 DUKW 34 Master ...................................................................................................................26 DUKW 34 Deckhand ..............................................................................................................28 Caribbean Sea Master ............................................................................................................28 Caribbean Sea Mate ...............................................................................................................29 Medical and Toxicological Information ........................................................................................30 Caribbean Sea Crewmembers ................................................................................................30 DUKW 34 Crewmembers .......................................................................................................31 Meteorological Information ...........................................................................................................31 Waterway Information ...................................................................................................................31 Postaccident Inspection and Testing ..............................................................................................32 DUKW 34 ................................................................................................................................32 Caribbean Sea ........................................................................................................................36 iii NTSB Marine Accident Report Maintenance of Ride The Ducks Philadelphia APVs ....................................................................37 General ....................................................................................................................................37 Daily Vehicle Inspections—General ......................................................................................38 Daily Inspections of DUKW 34 ..............................................................................................39 Recent Maintenance on DUKW 34 .........................................................................................39 Coast Guard Notifications and Ride The Ducks Emergency Procedures ........................................40 Company Policies Regarding Use of Wireless Devices While on Duty .......................................42 K-Sea Transportation ..............................................................................................................42 Ride The Ducks ......................................................................................................................43 Visibility Study ..............................................................................................................................43