Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Officials: Illegal charter boat trip halted
FORT LAUDERDALE – A charter boat trip out of Fort Lauderdale ended prematurely for seven passengers when the U.S. Coast Guard stopped a 47-foot catamaran for conducting an illegal charter, officials said.
The Coast Guard boarded the Shared Adventure on Sunday and found four infractions that included failure to have inspection and merchant mariner certificates and license, records show.
“Illegal charters violate the safety of people’s lives at sea within the maritime domain and the safety of lives at sea is our top priority,” said Lt. j.g. Peter Hutchinson, executive officer of Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale. “Before you step aboard, get underway or even pay for a chartered vessel, ask the captain to see his or her credentials, inspection certificate and vessel safety plan.”
Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of more than $59,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations.
They have to comply with the federal Passenger Vessel Safety Act of 1993 which, among other things, requires the proper licensing, certification, insurance and equipment for owners and operators of charter boats.
The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of the 70-foot motor yacht Isabella with six passengers aboard, last month. It was moored at Lauderdale Marina, 1900 SE 15th St., in Fort Lauderdale.
In March, crews from the Coast Guard station in Fort Lauderdale stopped four illegal charter boats at Haulover Inlet and on the Miami River in MiamiDade.