b'NEWSWIREIllegal Charter Operator Fined Nearly $100,000I llegal charters continue to be one of the top concerns for PVA and its members. Early in February, the U.S. Coast Guard imposed a civil penalty of close to $100,000 to a mariner found operating an illegal charter near Destin, Fla. CoastGuardStationDestinboardingteam members, Sector Mobile Marine Investigators, and Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office officers conducted multiple boardings of the pontoon over the past year after receiving tips from con-cerned members of the public.Following an extensive investigation led by Coast Guard Sector Mobiles Investigations Division, it was determined that on multi-ple occasions the operator of the vessel was in violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100(a), failure toprovideaCertificatedofInspection while carrying more than six passengers for hire, and of 33 C.F.R. 160.105, failure to comply with a Captain-of-the-Port Order. As a result, a Coast Guard Hearing Officer imposed a $98,364 civil penalty.Operators of illegal charters directly endan-ger our citizens, said Capt. Ulysses Mullins, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Mobile. It is a top priority for Sector Mobile to en-sure charter vessels operate safely and in full compliance with the law. The Coast Guard, along with our state and local law enforcement partners, will continue to educate the public and vigorously pursue those individuals who violatethestatutoryandregulatoryrequire-ments of the Passenger Vessel Safety Act.DIGITAL SHIPBUILDERSOwners and operators of illegal passenger ves- DESIGN. BUILD. CONSULT.sels may be subject to civil penalties of $60,000incatcrowther.comormoreforillegalpassenger-for-hire-opera-tions. Charters that violate a Captain-of-the-Port Order may be subject to civil penalties of PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD$95,000 per violation.SEASTREAK COMMODORE, SEASTREAK COURAGEOUS2 x 45m Catamaran Ro-Pax Ferries47 MARCH 2023'