duck tour liverpool sinks

Duck boat sinkings in Liverpool and London caused by fault with foam buoyancy

Passengers were forced to ditch into icy waters in the River Mersey and River Thames after the amphibious boats sank in separate incidents

• 13:00, 28 Oct 2013
• Updated 13:01, 28 Oct 2013

The recent sinking of two duck tour boats was due to a fault with the foam used to provide buoyancy, an official report has found.

Terrified passengers, including small children, were forced into icy waters when two amphibious boats sank in separate incidents earlier this year.

In June, 33 people had to be rescued when the 'Yellow Duckmarine' nose-dived into the River Mersey in Liverpool.

Video footage showed tourists desperately flinging themselves from windows while others clung to life rafts in the Albert Dock waters.

They included a mother holding her baby above water.

Three months later, 28 passengers were forced to ditch into the River Thames when a London Duck Tours boat burst into flames and began to sink.

An official investigation has found a problem with the foam used to provide buoyancy was at the centre of both incidents.

"It was extremely fortunate that, on both occasions, there were no serious injuries or loss of life," said the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) which reported both accidents in one report today.

The MAIB is now recommending that the vessels not be permitted to operate until the foam problem was sorted out.

Chief Marine Accident Inspector Captain Steve Clinch said: "The sinking of Wacker Quacker 1 in Salthouse Dock, Liverpool, and the fire on board Cleopatra on the River Thames were serious marine accidents involving WW2 DUKW amphibious vehicles that had been modified for use as sightseeing tour vehicles.

"Both accidents resulted in the rapid abandonment into the water of passengers, including small children, and crew. It was extremely fortunate that, on both occasions, there were no serious injuries or loss of life."

He went on: "Although one accident involved the sinking of a DUKW as a result of flooding, and the other involved a fire, the link between both events is the foam inserted into the DUKWs to provide buoyancy.

"In the case of the Liverpool sinking, insufficient foam had been inserted into the DUKW; the accident on the Thames was caused by the foam being packed too tightly around some of the DUKW's machinery, resulting in friction and overheating that caused the fire."

Capt Clinch went on: "Attempts to resolve how much foam is required in the DUKWs, and how it should be inserted, have been ongoing for several months, during which time the vessels have continued to carry passengers.

"However, the results of the investigation into the fire on Cleopatra indicate that the current method of inserting foam is not working as it compromises the safe operation of the vessels.

"I have therefore recommended to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency that the DUKWs should not be permitted to operate until the required standards of buoyancy and stability can be achieved without adversely impacting on their safe operation. "

The Liverpool incident on June 15 resulted in 31 passengers and two crewmen abandoning the vessel and going into the water. All were recovered without serious injury.

The Thames incident on September 29 involved the vessel's master beaching the vehicle before ordering the evacuation of passengers and crew. There were no serious injuries.

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Merseyrail teams up with knifesavers to install bleed kits throughout the network, port sunlight to welcome new press photography exhibition, family-friendly pride event announced for knowsley’s court hey park, port sunlight road race returns this weekend, is the city’s famous yellow duckmarine set to make a comeback in liverpool, word around town is that liverpool’s popular yellow duckmarine could be making waves again in the city..

Originally a big tourist attraction in the city, the Duckmarine tours have been host to royalty back in the day, when HM The Queen and Prince Phillip hopped on board for a tour of Salthouse Dock back in 2012.

The return of the ‘Duck Tours’ will be brought back to Liverpool by Liverpool City Sights, who are currently in talks with the Royal Albert Dock.

The team have proposed to bring new craft and assurances for the crafts to be entirely unsinkable, following the tours previously ending back in 2013 after a high-profile incident which seen one of the crafts sink with 33 people on board.

The launch will be dependent on the lifting of current COVID19 restrictions, which could be around end of Spring/early Summer.

Liverpool City Sights who run the open-top bus tours across the city, is owned by James and Phillip Olivier who are keen to get the Yellow Duckmarine tours back up and running, with James posting the news on social media:

“Salamander amphibious vehicles (Sally’s) being finished ready for the Summer launch at the Albert Dock, virus permitting, if you know any previous drivers, mechanics or PR staff that worked on the old ducks…please ask them to forward their CV to admin@liverpoolcitysights,” 

“Please note the Sally’s are unsinkable and have been passed by all the relevant authorities”

News of the return of the ducks has had a mixed bag of opinions, with some people of the public excited, some not so convinced.

Sean Morrison, estate manager at the Royal Albert Dock has confirmed they are in talks with Liverpool City Sights about bringing back the Duckmarine tours to the dock waters. 

READ MORE: Liverpool Tour Guide – Tour De Liverpool

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Yellow Duckmarine

A fleet of rather brutal-looking amphibious vehicles operate what is, undoubtedly, the most enjoyable tour of the city. Beginning in the Albert Dock (Gower Street bus stop), these bright yellow boat-busses amble you around the city, taking in the major sights, before returning to the waterfront, and splashing down a ramp into the cool waters of the Salthouse Dock. On her Diamond Jubilee tour Her Majesty the Queen donned her plastic kagoule to sample the ride herself. It was hard to tell if she was amused. It often is, isn’t it?

Note: Yellow Duckmarine ceased trading when it sank min-2013

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Amphibious bus returns to Liverpool as Splash Tours announce official launch date

Splash Tours will take guests on a 'splashdown' into the Albert Docks.

Ten years after the iconic Yellow Duckmarine made its final tour of Liverpool a new amphibious tour is set to take over the city. Splash Tours will launch a new road and water exploration experience in a matter of weeks, which the operators promise will be 'unforgettable'.

Customers will be guided along a 60-minute land and water tour, beginning at Royal Albert Dock and taking in landmarks such as the Royal Liver Building, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, and St George's Hall.

'Effortlessly' transforming into an amphibious vessel, the tour vehicle has been built by Seahorse Amphibious, following seven years of development, and will take guests on a 'splashdown' into the Albert Docks.

Operated by the Lumley family - Graham Lumley and his son Ed and daughter Amelia - the tour will feature live commentary, 'packed with entertaining and informative insights'.

Announcing the launch date on social media, Splash Tours said: "After seven years in the making, we can finally bring our unique land and water tour to Liverpool. Join us for an unforgettable boat tour that blends history, culture, and breathtaking scenery. Share the magic of Liverpool with us and create memories that will last a lifetime."

Splash Tours Liverpool will officially launch on May 2, 2024. More information is available here.

The tour brings back memories of The Yellow Duckmarine that operated in the city from 2001 and was one of Liverpool's most popular tourist attractions. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip even took a trip around the Albert Dock in the amphibious vehicle back in 2012.

However, the Duckmarine, also known locally as a Wacker Quacker, sank in the docks in March 2013 and that was the end of the attraction.

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Liverpool's Yellow Duckmarine - guide to Albert Dock tourist attraction

The Yellow Duckmarine is family fun for all the family - here's our guide to the famous tour of Liverpool's docklands.

• 13:37, 2 APR 2013
• Updated 15:08, 7 MAY 2013

THE Yellow Duckmarine is Liverpool’s popular family maritime ride around the world famous docklands waterfront.

The fun begins the second you board the Duck, an authentic World War II landing vehicle, at the Albert Dock as you’re taken on an hour-long trip touring the famous sights of Liverpool.

Hold tight for a dramatic splash down into the Salthouse Dock before enjoying your dockland adventure culminating in a finish at the Albert Dock.

During the tour, the Ducks travel a circular route along the roads by Liverpool’s historic waterfront taking in the major sites including The Pier Head, The Three Graces, St. George’s Hall and the Cathedrals.

This part of the tour lasts approximately 30 minutes, returning to the Albert Dock where the Ducks dramatically drives straight down the roadand into the Salthouse Dock - for your incredible splash into the Mersey.

On the water the tour continues through the Wapping and Queens Docks to Coburg Dock. The Duck then travels back to circle the Albert Dock before driving straight out of the water in front of the Albert Dock buildings.

The tour lasts one hour with a live commentary throughout.

The Yellow Duckmarine tours began operating in Liverpool in 2001 with four rebuilt and updated 30 seat ex-military DUKWS - or ‘ducks’ as they were renamed.

The DUKW was designed by Roderic Stephens of New York based naval architects Sparkman and Stephens Inc., to meet a World War II need to move men and materials ashore where no port facilities existed. DUKW production totalled over 21,000 between 1942 and 1945.

From D-Day and during the first four months of the Normandy campaign, 40% of over-beach supplies were DUKW borne. DUKWS continued in service after the war with many armies - the British finally retiring theirs in 1974. DUKW is a US Army acronym meaning D = 1942, U = utility or amphibious, K = 6 wheel drive and W = twin rear axles. The vehicles have always been affectionately referred to as ‘Ducks’. Of those built, between 700 and 1,000 are thought to still exist.

All DUKW chassis numbers start with 353. Liverpool Ducks - ‘Wacker Quacker 1’, ‘Wacker Quacker 2’, ‘Wacker Quacker 3’ and ‘Wacker Quacker 4’.

Wacker Quacker 1 was once owned by BP and spent a number of years operating in Aberdeen Harbour.

Tours commence daily from 10.30am with four ducks operating all day every day during peak season and at weekends. During off-peak season at least one duck will operate throughout the day.

There is capacity for additional scheduled tours and group, private and corporate hire is available via advance booking.

For frequently asked Yellow Duck Tour questions click here .

For Yellow Duck Marine tour booking details and tickets click here .

Queen takes a ride on the Yellow Duckmarine during Diamond Jubilee tour of Merseyside .

Video and pictures as the Duckmarine sinks in Albert Dock

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Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia