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MAYOR of Liverpool Joe Anderson has called for the Yellow Duckmarine fleet never to be allowed back into the water after the latest dramatic sinking of one of the craft.

He said it was a “no-brainer” that the ‘Wacker Quackers’ should be grounded for good following the second incident in this year.

He told the ECHO his “heart had been in his mouth” as he was receiving updates from the police throughout the emergency, which started after the craft began to rapidly submerge within seconds of entering the water at around 3.55pm on Saturday afternoon. More than 30 passengers, including children, were on board and had to be rescued by nearby narrowboats and fire crews.

Mayor Anderson said regardless of the vehicles having safety certificates it was “not good enough” for two to sink within the last three months.

But the ECHO understands that initial investigations suggest there was no mechanical failure behind the sinking of the vessel.

A spokesmen for the company behind the tours, Pearlwild, said the craft were now in a secure location and the incident was “being investigated in the normal way” by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).”

Mayor Anderson, who in May last year travelled on the craft that sank – Quacker 1 – with the Queen and Prince Philip, told the ECHO he believed the vehicles – US Army World War II amphibious landing craft – had had their day.

He added: “For me now it is absolutely a no-brainer that these don’t go back in the water at all.

“People can argue they’ve got their safety certificates and had their checks but for two to sink in the last three months, it’s just not good enough.

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“If the company want to continue to work they need to invest in new vehicles.

“These should be mothballed and put in a museum. The safety of people must come first.

“This could have been a real disaster.”

Police, fire, ambulances and RAF helicopters descended on Salthouse Dock soon after the craft began to go under. Hundreds of people who crowded round the perimeter watched the rescue operation, which a spokesman for Pearlwild said had seen the “safe disembarkation of passengers on board”.

But video capturing the unfolding horror shows nearly all the passengers had to swim to the safety of barges which sailed to their aid.

Mayor Anderson added: “I was getting updates from the police yesterday afternoon and my heart was in my mouth.

“At one point we thought there were two adults and two children unaccounted for and it was the worst feeling, waiting for that phone call.

“Thankfully we found out they had booked tickets but not got on the boat. It is so lucky that no one lost their life.”

A spokesman for Pearlwild said it had “suspended all operations until the end of investigations”, but added: “The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that active fleet meets all required safety standards.

“Yellow Duckmarine will continue to follow all direction from, and fully cooperate with, the MCA.”