Coast Guard Terminates Illegal St. Pete Charter Trip

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Coast Guard put an end to the trip of a charter on Saturday night after an investigating officer from USCG Sector St. Petersburg discovered the charter boat was operating against Coast Guard regulations.

During the course of the boarding, the investigating officer determined the boat was not an inspected passenger boat, and uninspected passenger boats are only permitted by Coast Guard regulations to carry six passengers for hire, said a news release.

The uninspected boat had 15 passengers who paid to be aboard when authorities checked it at St. Petersburg Municipal Marina.

"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 Brian Knapp, senior investigating officer at USCG 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.”

The Coast Guard said the violations of the uninspected boat include:

• 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.

The Coast Guard reminds charter businesses that owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $50,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations.

Additionally, credentialed mariners who violate regulations risk license suspension. 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.