Miami Beach urges boaters to verify charters before Labor Day

The Miami Beach Fire Department is warning anyone paying for a boat ride over the Labor Day weekend starting Saturday to check that the captain holds a valid Merchant Mariner Credential before stepping aboard.

Advisory Lists Nine-Point Safety Checklist

The department posted the advisory on X on Thursday, cautioning that illegal charter operations may lack proper safety equipment or follow standard safety protocols. The post included a nine-point checklist covering life jackets, weather awareness, float plans and engine cut-off switches.

Coast Guard Ramps Up Enforcement Statewide

The warning lands as the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District ramps up enforcement. Since January, Coast Guard crews have stopped more than 100 illegal charter operations across the district, which covers Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Keys News reported.

"Taking five minutes to confirm your charter is legal can prevent a tragedy on the water," said Nicolette Vaughan, chief of inspections and investigations for the Coast Guard Southeast District.

What a Valid Merchant Mariner Credential Looks Like

A Merchant Mariner Credential is a Coast Guard-issued document with endorsements for deck, engineering, radio operator or uninspected-vessel operator roles. It is required for anyone operating a vessel for hire. For charter boats carrying more than six passengers, the Coast Guard also urges riders to ask for a Certificate of Inspection, a sticker displayed on the vessel.

Four Warning Signs of an Illegal Charter

The Coast Guard flagged four warning signs before boarding: a price well below competitors, an operator who cannot show credentials, no visible compliance stickers and a contract that lets the owner pick the captain and crew.

Recent Miami Enforcement Actions

Illegal charters have drawn enforcement action close to home. Coast Guard Sector Miami officers and local partners recently terminated five illegal charter voyages off Rickenbacker Causeway and Lummus Park, according to a Coast Guard press release. One vessel, the 54-foot cabin cruiser EPIC II, was found violating an active federal Captain of the Port Order.

Penalties Can Reach Six Years in Prison

Operators caught running illegal charters face civil penalties of $69,000 or more. Willfully violating a Captain of the Port Order is a Class D felony carrying up to six years in prison or fines up to $250,000.

Passengers lose out, too. If a Coast Guard crew terminates an illegal charter's voyage, riders may not recover their payment from the operator.

City Investing in New Marine Patrol Facility

The city is also investing in waterway enforcement infrastructure. Miami Beach broke ground July 24 on a $13 million Marine Patrol Facility at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park. The three-story building will house marine units for both the police and fire departments when it opens in summer 2027.