Coast Guard Sector Miami halts five illegal charter trips near Key Biscayne and Lummus Park

Enforcement action focused on passenger-for-hire safety requirements

Coast Guard Sector Miami law enforcement teams, working alongside federal, state and local partners, ended five illegal charter voyages during weekend patrols off the Rickenbacker Causeway and near Lummus Park. The boardings resulted in terminated trips and citations for multiple violations tied to passenger-for-hire operations in South Florida’s heavily trafficked boating corridors.

The operation centered on a 54-foot cabin cruiser identified as EPIC II. Investigators determined the vessel was operating as an illegal charter and was in violation of an active Captain of the Port Order that had been issued on Oct. 23, 2025. Captain of the Port Orders are federal directives that can require a vessel owner or operator to stop commercial activity until compliance issues are resolved.

What officers say they found during boardings

During the five boardings, officers reported a range of deficiencies that commonly determine whether a vessel can legally carry passengers for hire. The cited violations included operating without required inspection documentation and operating without appropriately credentialed mariners, as well as compliance failures related to vessel documentation and onboard safety gear.

• Failure to comply with an active Captain of the Port Order
• Failure to have a valid Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection
• Failure to have valid or properly endorsed vessel documentation
• Failure to maintain a drug and alcohol program required for passenger vessel operations
• Failure to employ, or have in control, a properly credentialed mariner
• Failure to have Type I personal flotation devices for all persons aboard under applicable passenger vessel rules

Federal law provides for significant penalties when a Captain of the Port Order is violated. Civil penalties can reach $117,608 per day for each day a vessel is in violation. Willful and knowing violations may be prosecuted as a felony, carrying potential prison time of up to six years and substantial fines. Separately, illegal passenger-for-hire operations may also trigger additional civil penalties that can exceed $69,000.

How passengers can reduce risk when booking on the water

The Coast Guard urged members of the public paying for trips on charter vessels to verify the operator’s credentials and safety preparations before boarding. Recommended checks include asking whether the captain holds a Merchant Mariner Credential and whether the vessel has a current Coast Guard-issued Certificate of Inspection when required. Passengers were also advised to confirm the presence of a safety plan and to avoid boarding if appropriate credentials cannot be produced.

Illegal charter operations were described by investigators as a safety risk for passengers, crews, and surrounding boaters, with enforcement efforts aimed at ensuring compliance with federal maritime regulations.

The weekend patrols underscore the continuing focus on charter enforcement in the Miami area, where high demand for private boat outings intersects with a regulatory framework designed to ensure vessels carrying passengers for hire meet specific staffing, testing, documentation and lifesaving-equipment standards.