AUGUST 27, 2025 — Coast Guard Southeast District is leading a campaign, throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, to inform the public of the risks and consequences associated with illegal passenger-for-hire charter operations ahead of Labor Day weekend.
Coast Guard Southeast District crews urge anyone paying for a trip on a passenger-for-hire vessel to verify their captain has a safety plan and a Merchant Mariner Credential. For charter boats with more than six passengers, ask to see a Coast Guard-issued Certificate of Inspection, which is a sticker commonly displayed on the vessel. If the operator cannot produce appropriate credentials, passengers should not get on the boat.
Before paying and boarding a charter vessel, ensure:
- The price is ‘right’: If the price for a charter vessel is significantly less than the competition, it might be too good to be true.
- The operator can show you their credentials: Operators who invested the time and resources to gain their certifications should be ready to show their credentials.
- There is compliance advertising: Legitimate businesses typically advertise their compliance with U.S. Coast Guard safety requirements.
- You review the contract: Did the owner allow you to choose your captain and crew? The owner should not be the operator.
Since January 2025, Southeast crews stopped more than 100 illegal charter operations throughout the district, as part of the Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to protect the maritime public.
“The Coast Guard’s top priority is the safety and security of everyone on and around our nation’s waterways,” said Jesus Porrata, Investigations Division chief. “Illegal charter operations endanger lives by bypassing critical safety regulations designed to protect passengers and the maritime environment. We urge the public to learn the signs of an illegal charter to avoid putting themselves or their loved ones at risk and to report any suspicious operations.”
If a Coast Guard crew terminates the voyage of an illegal charter vessel because they do not have the proper credentials, then payment made by passengers may be lost.
Boating passengers should understand the safety requirements before paying for charter services. Illegal charters operations often lack the necessary safety equipment and may not meet the same safety standards as legal charters, putting passengers at risk.
A merchant mariner credential is a document issued by the U.S. Coast Guard to mariners with endorsements for deck, engineering, pilot radio operator, or operator of uninspected vessel. The credential is always required by mariners operating a vessel-for-hire.
Anyone suspecting a vessel of violating the law should report the alleged violation to the Coast Guard Investigative Service here or download the CGIS Tips app.
The Coast Guard Southeast District continues to work alongside our maritime law enforcement partners to identify and halt illegal charter operations that pose a risk to the maritime public.
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