PHOTO AVAILABLE: Coast Guard terminates illegal charter near Demens Landing Park

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay 305-965-4672 PA Detachment Tampa Bay online newsroom

Coast Guard terminates illegal charter near Demens Landing Park

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Coast Guard terminated an illegal charter Saturday near Demens Landing Park. 

A Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg 29-foot Response Boat—Small law enforcement crew

terminated the voyage of a 21-foot uninspected passenger vessel with 9 passengers for hire. 

The violations include:

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. 176.100 (a) 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. 

During the course of the boarding, the boarding team determined the operator of the vessel was

not the holder of a Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential. Uninspected passenger vessels are only permitted by Coast Guard regulations to carry six

passengers for hire with a master who holds a Merchant Mariner Credential.

"The Coast Guard will continue to aggressively pursue vessel operators who needlessly place the

lives of patrons at risk by not complying with Coast Guard passenger vessel regulations," said

Mr. Brian Knapp, Senior Investigating Officer at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "We urge

anyone paying for a trip on a passenger vessel to ask to see the Merchant Mariner Credential of

the vessel operator to verify their captain is properly credentialed by the Coast

Guard. Additionally, when chartering a boat with more than six passengers ask to see the Coast

Guard’s Certificate of Inspection. If the operator cannot produce a Merchant Mariner Credential

or a Certificate of Inspection, don’t get on the boat.” 

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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-USCG-