Sen. Josh Hawley -- Hawley Urges Action on Law Requiring 'Duck Boat' Safety Regulations

On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Linda Fagan calling for the law requiring new safety standards for DUKW amphibious vehicles, also known as “duck boats,” to be properly implemented. New standards are intended to help prevent future tragedies following the 2018 accident on Table Rock Lake that claimed the lives of 17 people.

"When I joined the Senate, one of the first bills I introduced was the Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020. This legislation aimed to prevent similar accidents in the future by requiring amphibious vehicles meet minimum buoyancy requirements, weather preparedness standards, and new canopy regulations," wrote Senator Hawley. "It is critically important that we ensure the safety of all passengers and prevent future accidents.”

Senator Hawley introduced his Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act originally in 2019, and through a series of reintroductions it passed the House and Senate. The new standards were signed into law as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. That law gave the Coast Guard six months to take action on implementing the additional safety standards—a deadline that has now passed.

Read the full letter: 

Admiral Linda Fagan

Commandant

U.S. Coast Guard

Washington, DC 20032

Dear Commandant Fagan,

I write concerning the United States Coast Guard’s statutory obligation to issue new safety regulations for DUKW amphibious vehicles, also known as “duck boats.”

As you may know, on July 19, 2018, Missouri experienced one of the deadliest boating accidents in U.S. history. An amphibious duck boat capsized during a severe thunderstorm on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, tragically claiming the lives of 17 people. That is why, when I joined the Senate, one of the first bills I introduced was the Duck Boat Safety Enhancement Act of 2020. This legislation aimed to prevent similar accidents in the future by requiring amphibious vehicles meet minimum buoyancy requirements, weather preparedness standards, and new canopy regulations.

As you know, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 included this legislation, which requires you to “initiate a rulemaking to establish additional safety standards for DUKW amphibious passenger vessels” within “6 months.” President Biden signed this into law on December 23, 2022. It has now been over six months.

While there are some indications you have begun work on these new standards, I urge you to complete this process and issue the new guidance as soon as possible. It is critically important that we ensure the safety of all passengers and prevent future accidents. By August 1, 2023, please provide my office an update on the status of this regulation and your expected timeline for issuing the rule.

Sincerely, 

Josh Hawley

United States Senator

Senator Hawley Reintroduces Duck Boat Safety Legislation

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reintroduced his legislation to improve the safety of duck boats following the 2018 tragedy on Table Rock Lake. Senator Hawley’s legislation, cosponsored by Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), would authorize previously-outlined National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations, including commonsense provisions to require the use of life jackets and equipping all operating duck boats to be more buoyant in the case of emergency flooding.

Senator Hawley said, “In 2018, 17 people lost their lives in a preventable tragedy on Table Rock Lake. The best way we can honor the lives lost there and those lost in the accidents that preceded it is to do our part in protecting safety on the water and passing this common-sense legislation. This bill passed the Senate unanimously last year, and I am committed to building on that progress and seeing it become law."

"Seventeen people lost their lives in the duck boat tragedy on Table Rock Lake,” said Senator Blunt. “These common-sense safety measures, which are long overdue and need to go into effect immediately, will help prevent an incident like this from ever happening again. I was disappointed the House didn’t act on this important legislation after it passed the Senate last Congress. I urge all of my colleagues to come together and support our efforts to improve safety and protect lives." 

Senator Hawley’s bill was passed unanimously by the full Senate and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the 116th Congress.