Ethan Allen Accident Inspires New Law
By Thomas Hall
Published on July 31, 2007
There are now stricter penalties for violating rules related to public vessel design, crew staffing and equipment, and inspection.
Twenty people were killed when the Ethan Allen capsized in October of 2005. The National Transportation Board found that passenger overloading and a wake from another vessel in the area caused the boat to turn over. Investigators also found that the Ethan Allen did not have enough crew members or life jackets on board.
The revised law requires public vessels carrying more than 10 passengers to have an operational cell phone service or a high frequency marine radio. The law also states that a vessel with more than 65 passengers must have radar.
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