The U.S. Coast Guard is cracking down on the local charter operations it says lack proper licensing and fail to follow safety regulations.
“There’s a lot of illegal boats we’ll be trying to stop before they even get out,” said Brian Knapp, chief of investigations for Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “When we see them being advertised, we engage with them.”
Coast Guard Station Cortez crews terminated two local voyages in May, alleging they were operating under the guise of bareboat charters.
The Coast Guard on May 8 boarded the 42-foot vessel She’s Always Right near Bradenton Beach Marina with 11 passengers and allegedly operating as an illegal bareboat charter.
Knapp said they cited She’s Always Right for lacking a valid certificate of inspection, operating without a credentialed mariner in control, failing to maintain a drug and alcohol testing program and not possessing a valid certificate of documentation.
The Coast Guard also terminated a charter May 20 involving the 54-foot vessel Maititiki for allegedly operating as an illegal passenger vessel. The boat was escorted to Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
Knapp said both vessels failed to meet requirements for legitimate charters.
“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,” according to Knapp.
“Once an owner dictates which captain the renter must use, it is no longer a bareboat charter,” he added.
Knapp said public complaints, online advertisements and partner agencies help the Coast Guard identify potentially illegal charter operations.
Commercial passenger vessels must comply with federal regulations covering inspections, crew qualifications, safety equipment and drug-testing.
Coast Guard officials say the rules help protect passengers and ensure operators are prepared for emergencies.
Knapp said enforcement actions can include civil penalties against vessel owners and operators, while licensed captains may face action against their merchant mariner credentials.
He did not provide information on the results of the May 8 and May 20 citations, including whether they were contested.
Civil penalties for illegal passenger-for-hire operations can exceed $69,000 when multiple violations are involved.