Inspector says he told duck boat company its vessels had safety flaws

A private safety inspector says he warned the company that owned a duck boat that capsized Thursday and killed 17 people that the vessel had design flaws.

The inspector told The Associated Press he wrote a report in August saying the duck boat's engines and pumps that remove water from the hull might fail in inclement weather.

And many duck boat safety recommendations have not been widely implemented, according to NBC. The National Transportation Safety Board issued a list of recommendations to the duck boat industry in 2002.

Critics say a lack of action on those has contributed to preventable deaths.

See photos from the scene of the tragedy:

Additional reporting by Newsy affiliate CNN.