Philadelphia duck-boat tour operator involved in deadly barge accident to switch rivers

Philadelphia duck-boat tours changing rivers

PHILADELPHIA — A duck-boat tour company involved in a deadly barge accident in Philadelphia is leaving the industrial waterway where the tragedy occurred and will take tourists on a smaller river across town.

Ride the Ducks had used the Delaware River, but suspended its Philadelphia tours after July’s accident. It plans to resume operations in March, but will use the Schuylkill (SKOO’-kill) River instead.

The company says no passengers had ever been injured on water until the barge struck a stalled duck boat in the Delaware River’s shipping channel. The duck boat sank, and two Hungarian students aboard drowned. Their parents are suing Ride the Ducks, the city and others.

Ride the Ducks, of Norcross, Ga., also operates tours in San Francisco and Branson, Mo., among other cities.