Roadtown, Tortola - Her Majesty’s Customs has fined an American charter boat captain for operating charters illegally in the Territory.

Deputy Comptroller (Enforcement) Mr. Dean Fahie told the Department of Information and Public Relations that HM Customs received information earlier this year about a 60 foot catamaran which has been operating in the Territory without commercial and trade licences.

Mr. Fahie explained that in order to conduct a charter in the BVI persons must first obtain a trade licence.   “The vessel was stopped on several occasions by Customs Officers and the captain informed the officers that the people on board were his family and friends,” Mr. Fahie said.

The Deputy Comptroller (Enforcement) said the vessel was boarded last week in Nanny Cay Marina by the Marine Task Force Officers at around 8 p.m. “Persons on board were questioned along with the captain who indicated that the persons were his friends,” Mr. Fahie said, adding, “a search of the vessel revealed documents that showed that the persons on board were paying guest who chartered the vessel for ten days.”

Mr. Fahie said the captain was cautioned by the Customs Officers and he opted to have the matter compounded by the Comptroller of Customs, which means that the matter was settled outside the court and a fine was levied.  

The matter was settled after the captain paid a fine in excess of $6,000 for the offenses of failing to obtain a commercial licence before chartering under the Commercial Recreational Vessel Licensing Act and failing to obtain a cruising permit before chartering under the Cruising Permit Act, Cap 203. 

HM Customs would like to thank the public for their continued support and like to encourage the public to continue utilising the hot line 494-8209 to report offenses and provide leads or other relevant information.

Her Majesty’s Customs' mission is to safeguard the well-being and security of the Territory by facilitating legitimate trade, enforcing import and export regulations and conducting covert and overt surveillance of the BVI’s waters.