The US Coast Guard announced that it terminated the voyage of the 47-foot pleasure craft, Good Energy, with 10 passengers aboard on May 26, near Haulover Park, as it discovered multiple safety violations.
A US Coast Guard Station Miami 33-foot Special Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement boatcrew carried out the boarding of the pleasure craft near Haulover Park, discovering the following violations:
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100A for not having a valid Certificate of Inspection;
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16.201 for failure to have a drug and alcohol program;
- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 170.120 for failure to have a valid stability letter.
It’s very important to us that people are being safe out on the water. Putting your trust in an operator who’s not properly credentialed could be dangerous for everyone involved
mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy Montes, duty enforcement officer at Coast Guard 7th District.
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Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of more than $58,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations. In addition, some possible fines for illegally operating a charter vessel include:
- Up to $18,477 for failure of an inspected vessel to be under the control of an individual with the appropriate Coast Guard license;
- Up to $7,250 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a chemical testing program;
- Up to $4,685 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers;
- Up to $15,995 for failure to produce a valid Certificate of Documentation for vessels over 5 gross tons;
- Up to $11,712 for failure to have been issued a valid Stability Letter prior to placing vessel in service with more than six passengers.
