PHOTO AVAILABLE: Coast Guard suspends illegal charter near Destin, Fla.

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Office: 504-671-2020 After Hours: 618-225-9008 Eighth District online newsroom

Coast Guard suspends illegal charter near Destin, Fla.

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NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office suspended an illegal charter operation Sunday near Destin Pass, Fla. 

The illegal passenger-for-hire operation was terminated after determining the vessel was carrying more than six passengers without a valid Certificate of Inspection. The captain was arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office after suspicion of boating under the influence (BUI) and failing the field sobriety test. 

Both vessels operated by Paradise Pontoon and Captain Service, the FL9085SS and FL1161PS, have active Captain of the Port Orders restricting them from operating with more than six passengers-for-hire. The FL9085SS was found in violation of the Captain of the Port Order and operating without a valid USCG Certificate of Inspection.

Potential violations for Illegal Charters are as follows:

46 CFR 67.7: Failure to have a valid Certificate of Documentation endorsement for Coastwise Trade

46 CFR 176.100(a): Failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection

46 CFR 180.71: Failure to have Type 1 flotation devices for all persons aboard while operating as a small passenger vessel

46 CFR 16.201: Failure to have a Drug & Alcohol program

46 CFR 15.401: Failure to employ an appropriately credentialed mariner

46 CFR 15.515(b): Failure to have an appropriate merchant mariner credential while operating as a small passenger vessel

Owners and operators can face maximum civil penalties of $60,000.

Charters violating a Captain of the Port Order can face a maximum penalty of $95,881.

To report illegal charters, download the CGIS TIPS app from your phone’s app store.

-USCG-