Editor's note: All Coast Guard Southeast imagery can be found on DVIDS, here.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Coast Guard Station Sand Key law enforcement crew terminated an illegal charter operating on the Intracoastal Waterway near Madeira Beach, Sunday.
After investigating, the law enforcement team deemed the 50-foot boat to be operating as an illegal passenger vessel, terminated the charter’s voyage, and escorted the 40 passengers and boat back to the Cambria Hotel.
The violations include:
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100 (a) – failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection.
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 180.71 – failure to have sufficient life jackets on board.
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.501 – failure to have an inspected passenger vessel under command control of a credentialed mariner
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 67.313 – failure to have a valid Certificate of Documentation on board
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16 – failure of crew enrolled in a drug testing program
“The Coast Guard regulates passenger vessel operations to ensure public safety. We urge anyone paying for a trip on a vessel to verify the vessel’s captain has a Merchant Mariner Credential and a Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers,” said Brian Knapp, chief of investigations at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “If the captain can’t produce their license, do not get on the boat.”
Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $60,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations. Charters that violate a Captain of the Port Order can face a maximum penalty of $117,608. Some potential fines for illegally operating a charter vessel are:
- Up to $22,324 for failure to operate a passenger vessel without a merchant mariner credential.
- Up to $9,086 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a drug testing program.
- Up to $5,661 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers.
- Up to $19,324 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over five net tons.
Anyone suspecting a vessel of violating the law is asked to report the alleged violation to Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg at 727-502-8720.
Join and follow Sector St. Petersburg's UPV & Bareboat Charter Outreach Facebook group for charter vessel education.
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