A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine calls for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to issue guidance to ensure the safety of passengers and crew on amphibious vehicles, also known as duck boats. The report, "Options for Improving the Safety of DUKW Type Amphibious Vessels," recommends that the USCG use a consistent risk-assessment methodology and update its regulations and enforcement practices to reflect the variable levels of risk to passengers and crew. According to the report, safety on DUWKs-amphibious vessels first produced during WWII and long used for sightseeing tours-has been an area of special concern for the USCG and the National Transportation Safety Board. A mass fatality sinking in 1999 led to significant changes in how USCG oversees the vessels under its jurisdiction. Another duck boat sank in 2018, killing 17 people, causing both government and the tour industry to renew their search for solutions.
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