On Sunday, the U.S. Coast Guard and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office terminated an “illegal passenger-for-hire” charter boat operation near Destin.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the termination came after determining the vessel was carrying more than 6 passengers without a valid Certificate of Inspection.
- The Captain was arrested by the Okaloosa County Deputies after suspicion of Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and failing the Field Sobriety Test.
“Both vessels operated by Paradise Pontoon and Captain Services, the FL9085SS and FL1161PS, have active Captain of the Port Orders restricting them from operating with more than six passengers-for-hire,” wrote the Coast Guard.
Violations include:
- Failure to have a valid Certificate of Documentation endorsement for Coastwise Trade
- Failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection
- Failure to have Type 1 flotation devices for all persons aboard while operating as a small passenger vessel
- Failure to have a Drug & Alcohol program
- Failure to employ an appropriately credentialed mariner
- Failure to have an appropriate merchant mariner credential while operating as a small passenger vessel
According to the Coast Guard, owners and operators can face maximum civil penalties of $60,000. Charters violating a Captain of the Port Order can face a maximum penalty of $95,881.
The name of the captain was not released.
Just last week, Lt. Steve Browning, U.S. Coast Guard, gave an almost-hour-long presentation to the Destin City Council on Charter and Passenger vessels, where he discussed illegal operations as well.
- “It’s scary stuff,” he told the council last Monday. “You have illegal charters out there. Mariners that are just going to make a buck and don’t really care about the safety and they’re hurting folks.”
“Public safety is a top priority for the City of Destin,” said Catherine Card, Public Information Manager for the city. “The City appreciates the presentation the United States Coast Guard (USCG) provided the Destin City Council and public on April 4th. In that presentation, the USCG outlined what constituted illegal charter operations. This recent arrest demonstrates the Coast Guard and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office continued commitment to public safety.”
Following the announcement of the termination, the Okaloosa County Watersport Operators Coalition issued the following statement:
“We are very happy to hear that illegal charters are under careful watch by the Coast Guard and law enforcement,” said Greg Fisher. “This is a high priority for the coalition as we head into the Summer boating season.”
- The Okaloosa County Watersport Operators Coalition was formed in January of 2021 by a group of concerned rental operators that want to see a safe and sustainable future for commercial boating activities in Okaloosa County.
