Coast Guard Halts Illegal Florida Charters
The U.S. Coast Guard recently halted five illegal charter boat operations in Florida waters. The agency cited safety concerns and regulatory violations, noting that such operations often lack proper licensing and essential safety equipment. The actions are part of a broader enforcement effort to ensure passenger safety on the state's waterways.
- The recent action is part of a larger, ongoing effort; since January 2025, Coast Guard crews in the Southeast district have halted over 100 illegal charter operations. In 2020 and early 2021, the Miami sector alone saw an almost 100% increase in the termination of illegal charters. - Operators of illegal charters face substantial financial penalties. Violating a Captain of the Port Order can lead to a civil penalty of up to $117,608 per day. Other potential fines include up to $9,624 for not having a drug and alcohol program and up to $5,996 for lacking a valid Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers. - In February 2023, a Coast Guard hearing officer imposed a civil penalty of $98,364 on a mariner near Destin, Florida, for repeatedly operating without a Certificate of Inspection and for violating a Captain of the Port Order. - Common violations include not having a credentialed mariner in control, failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection, and not being enrolled in a mandatory drug and alcohol testing program. - The dangers of such operations are severe; in 2018, an unlicensed yacht captain in Florida was implicated in the death of a passenger who was killed by the boat's propellers. Illegal charters often lack essential lifesaving gear and the crew may not be properly trained for emergencies. - Federal law requires that on an uninspected passenger vessel, a maximum of six paying passengers are allowed, and the operator must have a Merchant Mariner Credential. Some illegal operations attempt to circumvent this by improperly claiming to be "bareboat charters," a specific rental arrangement that transfers ownership to the charterer. - Legitimate charter operators are put at a significant economic disadvantage as they invest heavily in safety, training, insurance, and Coast Guard inspection and licensing fees, costs that illegal operators bypass. - To combat this issue, the Coast Guard established the Gulf Coast Illegal Charter Task Force in November 2022, involving multiple federal and state agencies to target illegal operations in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.
