Tragic Boat's Operator Shut Down

Authorities: Vessel Was Short A Crewmember; Investigation Continues

(CBS/AP)  With only one crewmember and just a passenger shy of full capacity, a tour boat that flipped over and killed 20 elderly tourists was unprepared to handle the dangers they faced, authorities said.

The state late Monday suspended the operating certificates for all five boats run by tour company Shoreline Cruises, including that of The Ethan Allen, which sank Sunday afternoon during what was supposed to be a relaxing, one-hour fall foliage tour for a group of senior citizens.

The suspensions followed the determination that The Ethan Allen carried only one crewmember, 74-year-old Capt. Richard Paris, according to Wendy Gibson, spokeswoman for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The Ethan Allen has a maximum capacity of 50 people — 48 passengers and two crew, Gibson said. Commercial boats in New York that carry between 21 and 48 passengers must have two crewmembers.

According to authorities, the captain of the boat told them the boat was hit by waves from at least one other vessel and turned over as he tried to steer out of them. CBS News' Michael Weber reports there were rumors of eyewitness reports that the wake of a larger tour boat caused the boat to capsize, but there was no immediate confirmation that another boat that could have kicked up waves was in the area.

Police said a wave from a passing boat and a sudden shift of passengers' weight on the boat's long benches may have factored into the capsizing. The investigation is ongoing.

"The bottom line is, any one of these little factors could not have upset the boat," said Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland. "If four or five of these came together, it's possible."

State officials originally suspended the certificates for two small boats similar to The Ethan Allen — The de Champlain and The Algonquin — but Gibson said they had expanded the suspension to include The Adirondac and The Horicon. Those larger cruise ships carry 400 and 200 guests, respectively, compared with the smaller boats that carry between 30 and 50 people.

Shoreline Cruises did not return messages left at its office Sunday and Monday.