US Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago and the Chicago Harbor Safety Committee hosted an Uninspected Passenger Vessel and Bareboat Charter Workshop, in order to help deter the growing number of illegal charter operations on the southern tip of Lake Michigan and Chicago Area Waterway System.
The workshop aimed to educate boaters on federal, state and local safety and licensing requirements for taking paying passengers and the dangers of operating illegally.
“Educating boaters is the Coast Guard’s primary tool for compelling compliance. Forums such as this workshop and the unity of effort from our partnering agencies are critical to preserving the safety of passengers, promoting safe and legal boating practices and facilitating commerce” said Cmdr. Zeita Merchant, commanding officer of Marine Safety Unit Chicago.
As USCG informs, in addition to education and outreach, Coast Guard stations conduct routine law enforcement boardings to verify vessels are legally carrying paying passengers and have the required safety equipment on board. Upon discovering an illegal passenger vessel operation, the station notifies Marine Safety Unit Chicago to convene an investigation.
Within the last year, Marine Safety Unit Chicago has investigated 22 reports of illegal passenger vessel operations and the number of reports is expected to significantly increase due to extensive outreach efforts.
Vessels proven to be operating illegally can be subjected to fines of up to $42,750 or more per day. Repeated violations or an accident leading to injury or death on non-compliant vessels can lead to felony criminal charges. On this context, the US Coast Guard urges shippers to ensure that their boat operators are licensed by the Coast Guard and are operating vessels with the required safety equipment on board.
