Coast Guard halts illegal charter operation near Haulover Park

MIAMI — The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of the 47-foot pleasure craft, Good Energy, with 10 passengers aboard Sunday near Haulover Park after discovering multiple safety violations.

A Coast Guard Station Miami 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew conducted the boarding of the pleasure craft near Haulover Park where they 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. 

"It's very important to us that people are being safe out on the water," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy Montes, duty enforcement officer at Coast Guard 7th District. "Putting your trust in an operator who's not properly credentialed could be dangerous for everyone involved." 

Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $58,000 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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