Six illegal charter boats that were operating in South Florida waters were stopped over the weekend, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.
The stops were made in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and also involved local, state and federal authorities.
One vessel, an 88-foot motor yacht The Round, was reportedly operating as an illegal charter with numerous violations and 18 passengers for hire, officials said.
The boat’s owner was found to have previously been issued three Captain of the Port Orders, officials said.
The six boardings led to various violations of failure to comply with a Captain of the Port Order, failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection, failure to employ a credentialed mariner and possession of a controlled substance, among others, officials said.
Violations of the orders can lead to fines of over $117,000 for each violation or possibly prison time for willful and knowing violations, or fines of up to $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for an organization for willful and knowing violations.
“Our crews and law enforcement partners remain steadfast in enforcing federal maritime regulations, while also holding vessel owners and operators accountable, to ensure the safety of the boating public in South Florida.” Jesus Porrata, Coast Guard Sector Miami investigating officer, said in a statement. “Charter vessel operators need to be mindful of the safety regulations before embarking passengers to prevent the risk of an accident, voyage terminations and civil penalties due to non-compliance with established laws.”
Coast Guard officials said anyone paying for a trip on a passenger vessel should verify that their captain has a safety plan and a Merchant Mariner Credential.
For larger charter boats or those with more than six passengers, you should ask to see a Coast Guard-issued Certificate of Inspection. If the operator cannot produce appropriate credentials, passengers should not get on the boat, officials said.