The Coast Guard just issued its largest civil fine ever to a Chicago man accused of operating two illegal charter boats. The Coast Guard said the man, Robert Glick, violated three federal regulations for each of his two boats, Fun, a 40-foot pontoon boat, and Allora, a 37-foot Sea Ray. It said that it first warned Glick in June, 2016, that he was operating an illegal charter business, carrying passengers for hire, but that he continued to operate the charters anyway.
Originally, the Coast Guard recommended fining Glick $214,000, but reduced the amount. The fines now include:
$44,000 for operating without certificates of inspection.
$22,000 for operating without having crew members chemical tested.
$14,000 for failing to have stability letters issued before the boats were placed in service.
Both boats were stopped many times from June, 2017, to June, 2018, by members of the Coast Guard Station Calumet Harbor and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. They were cited for violations many times. The Coast Guard said that Glick continued to advertise and operate the boats as a charter business despite the warnings and citations.
Glick advertised Fun as an outboard-powered, two-level, 40×17-foot “pontoon party barge,” holding up to 12 adults. It had reclining chairs on the sun deck, a gas grill, cooler, sink, head, stereo, two paddleboards and a kayak. Allora, the Sea Ray, also was advertised to hold 12 people, with an aft lounge, front sun deck, galley, ice maker, two staterooms (“one serves as changing room”), two heads, a gas grill and swim platform.
Boat operators carrying more than six paying passenger are considered to be operating a commercial passenger business. They are required to have a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and a mariner’s license.
“Regulations are in place to help ensure the safety of passengers,” said Cmdr. Zeita Merchant, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago. “The Coast Guard’s ultimate goal is to ensure the safety of the boating public through full compliance with the minimum safety standards required in law and regulation.” Read more:
