Richard Cruz, the owner and captain of the ill-fated vessel Stimulus Money, has pleaded guilty to charges of misconduct and neglect resulting in the deaths of two passengers on the Hudson…
illegal charter
Illegal Charter Operators Face Lengthy Prison Sentences Over Fatal Capsizing
Richard Cruz and Jaime Pinilla Gomez, the owner and operator of the vessel Stimulus Money, were arrested following the fatal capsizing incident on the Hudson River in July 2022. The…
https://gcaptain.com/illegal-charter-operators-face-lengthy-prison-sentences-over-fatal-capsizing/
Florida Mariner Fined $100,000 for Illegal Charter
The U.S. Coast Guard has imposed a hefty civil penalty of nearly $100,000 to a mariner found operating an illegal charter vessel near Destin, Florida. The pontoon vessel had been…
https://gcaptain.com/florida-mariner-fined-100000-for-illegal-charter/
Texas Man Faces Up to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Charter Operation
A 65-year-old boat captain is facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for operating an illegal charter cruise near Houston, Texas and lying to U.S. Coast…
https://gcaptain.com/texas-man-faces-up-to-10-years-in-prison-for-illegal-charter-operation/
Coast Guard arrests Miami charter operator
The Coast Guard terminated the voyage of the 45-foot pleasure craft, Breaking the Habit, with 12 passengers aboard Saturday near American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Watchstanders determined that the vessel was operating illegally and in violation of a previous Captain of the Port order. This is the second time within a month the vessel was discovered operating as an illegal charter. A Coast Guard Station Miami Beach boarding team conducted the boarding of the pleasure craft and discovered the...
https://www.workboat.com/news/passenger-vessels/coast-guard-arrests-miami-charter-operator/
Coast Guard illegal charter enforcement in full swing
With the summer recreational boating season in full swing, Coast Guard teams are carrying out enforcement operations against illegal charter boats on coastal and inland waters.
On 29’ response boat law enforcement crew terminated a voyage Sunday in Boca Ciega Bay on the Florida Gulf coast, following up the lead of Coast Guard investigators who discovered the operator of the 42’ houseboat was advertising passenger service on social media.
A Coast Guard Saint Petersburg, Fla., law enforcement crew...
Coast Guard, Florida captains discuss illegal charter boat operations
Fresh off a multistate enforcement blitz, Coast Guard officers met Wednesday with Florida passenger vessel operators to discuss how to stop illegal charter boats.
Prevention officers from Coast Guard sectors Tampa, Jacksonville and Miami met in Clearwater, Fla., with more than 40 members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) to talk about combined efforts to stop illegal passenger vessel operations.
“These conversations with legal operators are critical to keeping our waterways safe,” said...