PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard halts illegal charter near Watson Island

united states coast guard 

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 Watson Island

A Coast Guard Station Miami Beach 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew terminated the voyage of a 22-foot pleasure craft with five people aboard Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019 in the vicinity of Watson Island after discovering multiple violations. 

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MIAMI — The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of a 22-foot pleasure craft with five people aboard Saturday in the vicinity of Watson Island after discovering multiple violations. 

A Coast Guard Station Miami Beach 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew conducted the boarding of a 22-foot Yamaha vessel near Watson Island where they discovered the following violations:

  • Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.605, for failure to have appropriate merchant mariner credentials
  • Violation of 46 C.F.R. 201, for failure to have a drug and alcohol program
  • Violation of 46 C.F.R. 25, for failure to have fire protection equipment
  • Safety violation for having insufficient amount of life jackets aboard

“Before you step off the pier onto a boat you charter, you should ask to see the captain’s boating license, request to see their certificate of inspection and their safety plan, because once you step off that pier with an unlicensed captain you place your life in danger,” said Lt. Brandon Earhart, commanding officer of Station Miami Beach. “Owners and operators who engage in illegal charter operations endanger the very people who are paying for a safe and enjoyable time on the water. If there is any doubt, don’t go. Don’t put your life and the lives of your family and friends in the hands of an unlicensed operator.”

 

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 $16,398 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 gross tons.
  • 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.

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-USCG-