Tampa Bay Charter Boat Accused Of Not Having License: Coast Guard

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg boarding team stopped a boat that it accused of illegally operating as a small passenger boat in Tampa Bay on Saturday, a Coast Guard news release said.

A 48-foot boat operated as a bareboat charter with 13 passengers for hire, according to investigators. The boat operator allegedly did not have a valid certificate of inspection. Owners and operators of illegal charter vessels can face maximum civil penalties of over $60,000 for illegal passenger-for-hire operations, the Coast Guard said.

“Under a bareboat charter contract, the person who rents the charter must be given the option to hire any captain of their choosing, or operate the boat themselves,” said Brian Knapp, senior investigating officer at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. “If a bareboat renter is assigned a captain without any options, the bareboat charter designation no longer applies."

Tampa Police Department's marine unit assisted the Coast Guard with the investigation. The boat and passengers were taken back to downtown Tampa, according federal authorities.

Some potential fines for illegally operating a charter boat, according to the U.S. Coast Guard are:

• Up to $19,505 for failure of an inspected vessel to be under the control of an individual with the appropriate Coast Guard license.
• Up to $7,939 for failure of operators to be enrolled in a chemical testing program.
• Up to $4,946 for failure to provide a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection for vessels carrying more than six passengers.
• Up to $16,844 for failure to produce a valid certificate of documentation for vessels over 5 net tons.