The Coast Guard recently terminated a charter voyage near Ana Maria Island.
A Coast Guard Station Cortez law enforcement crew recently terminated the illegal charter vessel that was acting as a bareboat charter with 11 passengers for hire near Bradenton Beach Marina in the Tampa Bay area.
After investigation, Coast Guard officers deemed the 42-foot vessel, She’s Always Right, operated as an illegal small passenger vessel, terminated the charter’s voyage, and escorted the boat and passengers back to Bradenton Beach Marina.
Violations issued during the boarding consisted of: Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100 (a) – failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection, Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.515 (b) – for not having a credentialed mariner in control while operating a small passenger vessel, Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16.201 – for failure to have a drug and alcohol program, and Violation of 46 C.F.R. 67.7 – Failure to have a valid Certificate of Documentation.
“For a bareboat charter to be legally valid, the renter must have complete control over who is at the helm—whether they pilot the vessel themselves or hire a captain of their own choosing,” said Brian Knapp, chief of investigations at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “Once an owner dictates which captain the renter must use, it is no longer a bareboat charter.”
“Illegal charter boat operations pose a significant threat to public safety and the integrity of the maritime industry,” said Capt. Corrie Sergent, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “Licensed mariners, inspected vessels, and compliant operators exist because safety standards save lives. When someone ignores those requirements, they bypass the protections the public depends on when they step aboard a vessel. Our ultimate goal is ensuring every passenger, visitor, and mariner returns home safely at the end of the day.”
Owners and operators of illegal charters can face civil penalties of $69,000 or more for illegal passenger-for-hire vessel operations. Some potential civil penalties for illegally operating a passenger vessel include:
- Up to $5,996 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers for hire.
- Up to $9,624 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a drug and alcohol program.
- Up to $20,468 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 gross tons.
The Coast Guard urges anyone paying for a trip on a vessel to verify the captain has a safety plan and a Merchant Mariner Credential. For larger charter boats or those with more than six passengers, ask to see a Coast Guard-issued Certificate of Inspection, or if they conform to Uninspected Passenger Vessel regulations. If the operator cannot produce appropriate credentials, passengers should not get on the boat.
