53
MARCH 2026
I
n early March, U.S. Coast Guard 
Sector Miami law enforcement 
officers, along with federal, state, 
and local law enforcement partners, 
terminated six illegal charter voyages, 
across Palm Beach, Broward and Mi-
ami-Dade counties. 
Illegal charters are a persistent and 
serious challenge for the passenger 
vessel industry and have remained a 
top issue for PVA. In direct response 
to sustained advocacy by PVA, the 
Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) agreed late last year to a bipar-
tisan request from the leaders of the 
U.S. House Transportation and Infra-
structure Committee (T&I) to con-
duct a comprehensive federal study of 
illegal passenger-for-hire operations, 
commonly referred to as illegal char-
ters. This investigation will provide 
Congress with the independent anal-
ysis needed to strengthen enforcement 
and oversight.
In Miami, the 88ʹ motor yacht, The 
Round, was reportedly operating as 
an illegal charter with numerous vio-
lations and 18 passengers for hire on 
the vessel. During the investigation, it 
was found the vessel’s owner was pre-
viously issued a Captain of the Port 
(COTP) Order three separate times. 
Violating a COTP Order is enforce-
able under 46 U.S.C. 70036. The 
Coast Guard may issue a civil penalty 
for up to $117,608 for each violation 
and may be assessed each day the vessel 
is in violation. Willful and knowing 
violations can be punished as a Class 
D felony, which is punishable up to six 
years in prison or fines up to $250,000 
for an individual or $500,000 for an 
organization.
Violations issued during the six board-
ings included: 
• Violation of 33 C.F.R. 160.105 – 
Failure to comply with an active 
COTP Order 
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100(a) – 
Failure to have a valid Certificate  
of Inspection
ˆ• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 67.7 –  
Failure to have a valid Certificate  
of Documentation 
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 16.203(a)(1) – 
Failure to have a drug and  
alcohol program
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.401(a) –  
Failure to employ a  
credentialed mariner
• Violation of 46 U.S.C 70506 (c) – 
Possession of a controlled substance
• Violation of 46 U.S. Code 14702 – 
Providing false statements
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 25.25.5 – 
Failure to have Type I personal  
flotation devices for all persons 
aboard while operating as an 
uninspected passenger vessel 
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 26.20.1 – 
Failure to have merchant mariner 
credential available to be presented 
to CG while operating with  
passenger for hire
•  Violation of 46 C.F.R. 67.325 – 
Failure to have a properly endorsed 
Certificate of Documentation
• Violation of 46 C.F.R.  67.123 – 
Failure to properly display name and 
hailing port marking requirements
• Violation of 46 C.F.R.  67.313 –  
Requirement to have  
original Certificate of  
Documentation onboard 
• Violation of 46 C.F.R. 15.515 (c) –  
Failure to have a credentialed 
mariner in control while operating 
as small passenger vessel
• Violation of 33 C.F.R. 173.23 – 
Failure to have a valid  
state registration 
Anyone with information regarding 
an illegal charter is encouraged to con-
tact CGIS here or download the app.   
U.S. COAST GUARD
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami and Partners 
Stop Six Illegal Charters
U.S. COAST GUARD

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