PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard halts illegal charter near Mallory Square

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast Contact: 7th District Public Affairs Office: 305-415-6683 After Hours: 786-367-7649 7th District online newsroom

Coast Guard halts illegal charter near Mallory Square

 

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KEY WEST, Fla. — The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a 33-foot pleasure craft with seven people aboard in the vicinity of Mallory Square, Wednesday.

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

• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.605 for failure to have an uninspected passenger vessel under the control of a properly licensed individual.

"When purchasing a boat charter run by a provided crew, before you step on board the vessel, you should always check to see the captain's license," said Lt. Katharine Brodie, chief of the investigations division at Coast Guard Sector Key West. Participating in an illegal charter can put your life and everyone else's life on the charter at risk, by being under the direction and control of an unlicensed individual."

Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $59,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations. Some potential fines for illegally operating a charter vessel are:

• Up to $7,710 for failure to have a drug and alcohol program.
• Up to $16,398 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 net tons.
• Up to $7,710 for failure to have appropriate personal flotation devices.
• Up to $14,910 for failure to display navigational lights.
• Up to $39,936 for failure to have an uninspected passenger vessel under the control of a properly licensed individual.

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-USCG-