20-Sep-20 – Hopefully, as the name of the boat suggests, there are liquid assets to pay steep fines for being what the United States Coast Guard says was an illegal passenger-for-hire operation.

Assisted by City of Chicago personnel, the Coast Guard says it “terminated the voyage” of Liquid Asset, a 44-foot Sea Ray Express Bridge with eight passengers on board near Burnham Harbor on September 13, calling it an illegal charter boat.

The Coast Guard says it found three violations – not having a valid certificate of inspection, not having a valid stability letter, and not having a “certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement” needed for vessels weighing more than five gross tons. Potential fines for the violations total $33,497.

“The Coast Guard will continue to pursue vessel operators who place the lives of our community members at risk through illegal operations in the Chicagoland area,” said Coast Guard Commander Randy Preston (left), Commanding Officer for Marine Safety Unit Chicago.

“I want to remind all of our vessel operators to reach out to our office if they have any questions regarding federal safety regulations or how to operate legally as a small passenger vessel or bareboat charterer,” said Preston.

According to the Coast Guard, civil penalties for illegal charter vessels can reach $80,000.