PALM BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard terminated an illegal charter over the weekend near Palm Beach, officials announced Monday.
According to Coast Guard officials, the 51-foot boat, Diamond D, had 14 people on board Saturday, including 12 passengers and two crew members.
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Officials said the crew received citations for the following violations:
· Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100(a)- for not having a valid Certificate of Inspection.
· Violation of 46 C.F.R. 170.120- for failure to have a valid stability letter.
· Violation of 46 C.F.R. 67.7- for failure to have a valid Certificate of Documentation on a vessel over five net tons.
· Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16.201- for failure to have a drug and alcohol program.
“Before you step aboard a vessel ask to see the captain’s credentials and the vessel’s certificate of inspection to ensure it has all required safety equipment necessary in case of an emergency,” said Lt. Christopher Mosquera, Marine Safety Detachment Lake Worth investigating officer. “For a bareboat charter the owner can provide a list of captains to choose from, allowing the charterer to have complete control in selecting a captain and crew they want.”
According to Coast Guard officials, owners and operators of illegal passenger boats can be fined $60,000 or more. Charters that violate a Captain of the Port Order can face over $95,000 in fines.