From River Front Times We Still Don’t Know Who Ok’d The Branson Duck Boat Trip That Killed 17 People
A copy of the COI can be seen at the link. The COI includes the weather limits, a minimum freeboard of 12 inches, a requirement that the load line mark not be submerged. The maxiumum number of people allowed on board is 38, max of 37 passengers and minimum crew one master.
As to the article head line, it has been reported that the on board video showed a person coming aboard the boat just before sailing and telling the captain to switch up the tour by doing the water leg first because of the weather. The capain was seen using his phone to check the weather.