Coast Guard halts another illegal charter operation

A Coast Guard Station Mayport 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew conducts a boarding of a 75-foot pleasure craft, with 22 passengers aboard near Metropolitan Park, Jacksonville, Nov. 2, 2019. The vessel’s voyage was terminated for multiple violations (U.S. Coast Guard photo) .

The Coast Guard continues its crack down on illegal charter boat operations. Among the latest caught in the net is a 75-foot pleasure craft carrying 22 passengers that was boarded Saturday, Nov. 2 near Metropolitan Park, Jacksonville. Fla.

A Coast Guard Station Mayport 29-foot Response Boat – Small boarding team 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. 67.315 for failure of person in command of documented vessel to produce current & original Certificate of Documentation upon demand of a person acting in official public capacity
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 170.120 for failure to have a stability letter issued before the vessel is placed in service

“Always ask to see the captain’s credentials, vessel inspection certificate, and safety plan prior to leaving the dock,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Davis, a Coast Guard boarding officer from Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay. “The Coast Guard will continue to be on the lookout for vessel operators who are not complying with Coast Guard passenger vessel regulations and putting their passengers at risk.”

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

• Up to $7,710 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a chemical testing program.
• Up to $4,803 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers.
• Up to $12,007 for failure to have been issued a valid Stability Letter prior to placing vessel in service with more than six passengers.