Ethan Allen Investigation Continues in Lake George

Shoreline Cruises is looking for the NTSB to recreate the events that the company said contributed to the accident that killed 20 people and wounded 27 others.

An official for Shoreline Cruises, which owns the Ethan Allen, said the company believe the wake from the Mohican struck the rear of the vessel on its right side just before it sank Oct. 2, killing 20 people.

"Shoreline Cruises wants to ensure that the NTSB's test is under similar conditions as to those on the lake on Oct. 2," said Drew Ferguson, a spokesman for Shoreline Cruises, referring to the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the wreck. "This would mean running the Mohican at a higher speed than has been done and running the Mohican fully laden, which wasn't done."

Company sources said that while there have been conflicting witness accounts, some people reported seeing the Mohican nearby when the Ethan Allen capsized just before 3 p.m. near Cramer Point.

Bill Dow, who owns the Mohican and its parent company, Lake George Steamboat Co., said his craft was on the lake that day but at least a mile away when the Ethan Allen sank.

In light of the Ethan Allen incident, the State has reduced the passenger loads on 40 other boats around the state.

The state notified about 40 tour boat operators on state-regulated waters that passenger loads had to be reduced immediately, said Wendy Gibson, a spokeswoman for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The office recalculated passenger-capacity limits using a 174-pound weight per person recommended by the NTSB. Previously, the state used a 140-pound-per-person measure required by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The parks office also plans to recertify the weight capacity of all public vessels; require crew members to be familiar with their vessels; mandate safety briefings for passengers before all trips (briefings would include use and location of personal flotation devices and their immediate distribution if a passenger requests one); and to introduce legislation to increase penalties for owners and operators who do not follow state regulations.

Paula Wikoff, captain and owner of the Glimmerglass Queen on Otsego Lake, said passenger safety has to be put ahead of other considerations.

Technorati: Lake George, capsize, accident.