MULTIMEDIA RELEASE: Coast Guard, partner agencies crack down on Northeast Florida illegal charters

Multimedia Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville Office: 904-714-7606/7607 After Hours: 305-318-1864 PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

Coast Guard, partner agencies crack down on Northeast Florida illegal charters

 

 

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Coast Guard and partner agencies increased patrols to deter illegal charter operations in Northeast Florida during Operation PAX Defender, a week-long Coast Guard initiative to prevent illegal charter operations during the holiday weekend. 

During the operation, Coast Guard boatcrews from Stations Ponce de Leon and Mayport along with units from Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office and Jacksonville Sheriff's Office increased operations to deter illegal charters including:

• Boarded 49 vessels
• Conducted 27 site visits reviewing charter vessel documentation
• Hosted three classroom training sessions
• Assisted with two FWC investigations
• Found nine violations
• Terminated one voyage
• Brought five charters into compliance

"While the results of this weekend's surge operation helped capture the efforts of Coast Guard crews throughout the region, illegal operators of charters should know that our teams are constantly on patrol," said Lt. Israel Parker, the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Investigating Officer. "We will continue to enforce and hold accountable those who seek to mislead the public and Coast Guard officials with illegal charter operations, and help educate charter passengers on safe and legal charter practices."

In the weekend prior to Operation PAX Defender starting, Coast Guard units in the Miami area terminated three separate illegal charter vessels: The Blessed, The Golden Touch II and the It’s All Good.

While Operation PAX Defender was underway, the owner of the 147-foot yacht Golden Touch II was arrested for violating the Captain of the Port Order placed on the vessel after it was operating an illegal charter August 20th.

“The Golden Touch II case highlights how seriously the Coast Guard and our partner agencies take illegal charters,” said Capt. Michael Fazio, staff judge advocate, Coast Guard 7th District. “This is more than simple misuse of a private vessel. These owners and operators are putting at risk the lives of the people they embark and will be held legally liable.”

Owners and operators of illegal charter vessel can face maximum civil penalties of $41,456 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations. Some potential fines for illegally operating a charter vessel are:

• Up to $18,477 for Failure of an inspected vessel to under the control of an individual with the appropriate Coast Guard license.
• Up to $38,925 for failure to have an uninspected passenger vessel under the control of a properly licensed individual.
• Up to $7,251 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a chemical testing program.
• Up to $23,436 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers.
• Up to $15,995 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 gross tons.

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