Coast Guard halts 2 more illegal charter operations in Miami

MIAMI — The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a 27-foot pleasure craft with 12 people aboard Friday near America Airlines Arena and a 36-foot pleasure craft with 12 passengers aboard Saturday after discovering multiple safety violations.

A Coast Guard Station Miami 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew conducted the boarding of the 27-foot pleasure craft and discovered the following violations:

• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100A for not having a valid Certificate of Inspection.
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.515B for not having a credentialed mariner in control while operating a small passenger vessel. 
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16.201 for failure to have a drug and alcohol program.
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 170.120 for failure to have a valid stability letter. 

Another Station Miami boatcrew boarded the 36-foot pleasure craft and discovered the following violations: 

• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100A for not having a valid Certificate of Inspection.
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16.201 for failure to have a drug and alcohol program.
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 170.120 for failure to have a valid stability letter. 

"We want everyone to have fun out on the water, but safety is the number one priority," said Cmdr. Bradley Clare, prevention department head at Coast Guard Sector Miami. "We will continue to seek out people who commit crimes on the water and jeopardize boater safety." 

Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $50,000 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 be under the control of an individual with the appropriate Coast Guard license.
• Up to $7,250 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a chemical testing program.
• Up to $4,685 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.
• Up to $11,712 for failure to have been issued a valid Stability Letter prior to placing vessel in service with more than six passengers.

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