A day on the water for 16 people on a charter boat named Natalie was cut short. Here’s why
A trip on the Miami River was cut short for 16 people when U.S. Coast Guard crews came on board their charter boat named Natalie.
Crews found that the owner of the 49-foot pleasure boat was operating an illegal charter and terminated the boat’s voyage, the Coast Guard said.
“The Coast Guard will continue to aggressively pursue vessel operators who place the lives of patrons at risk by not complying with Coast Guard passenger vessel regulations,” said Jesus Porrata, Coast Guard Sector Miami Investigations Division investigations officer.
Among the violations: There wasn’t a credentialed mariner and there wasn’t an alcohol and drug program for its crew members.
This isn’t the first time a boat has been stopped for operating an illegal charter.
In October, the owner of a boat named Sea you Twerk was sentenced to 30 days in federal prison after he violated an order to stop running his illegal charter. Dallas Lad, 38, was also told that he couldn’t have a boat for three years.
Owners and operators who run illegal charters can face maximum civil penalties of nearly $60,000.
The Coast Guard said passengers should ask questions before getting on a boat.
“Using unqualified operators puts yourself, passengers and other boaters in danger,” Porrata said in a news release. “Before you step off the pier onto a boat you charter, you should ask to see the captain’s boating license, request to see their certificate of inspection and their safety plan.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 6:00 AM.
