Tour boat that capsized was overloaded, report says

NEW YORK – A cruise boat on a foliage tour on Lake George last year was overloaded and should have been carrying far fewer passengers when it capsized, resulting in the deaths of 20 elderly people, according to a report issued by federal investigators Tuesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board found that the tour boat, the Ethan Allen, had 48 people on board when it overturned on a calm day on the lake in the Adirondacks. The vessel was certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry 48 passengers and two crew members, but the guidelines were drafted when the average American weighed 140 pounds, about 35 pounds less than the average now.

What’s more, the Ethan Allen, operated by Shoreline Cruises, underwent a modification after its certification that made the boat suitable for only 14 people, investigators found.

NTSB acting Chairman Mark Rosenker said the combination of the modified design, the increased passenger weight and a sharp turn caused the boat to become unstable. The accident Oct. 2 prompted proposed changes in weight rules that could affect most commercial passenger boats in the nation. Officials said they hope to make the changes soon.

The NTSB recommended that vessels whose original designs are modified undergo stability tests. The NTSB asked that the Coast Guard provide standards for assessing stability of small passenger boats. After the accident, New York adopted Coast Guard regulations for small passenger vessels, rules that previously did not cover state waters such as Lake George.