Withlacoochee River News

Coast Guard Disrupts Illegal Vessel Operator

The U.S. Coast Guard disrupted an illegal river tour business operating on the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon, Fla., Feb. A Coast Guard investigation determined that Singing River Tours, who conducts boat tours of the Rainbow and Withlacoochee Rivers, operated their 24-foot pontoon vessel on two different tours while carrying ten passengers in excess allowed by law. Although the vessel was operated by Captain Jon Semmes, 39, a resident of Dunnellon, the vessel was not certificated for passenger service. The Coast Guard is issuing Singing River Tours a citation and is seeking to suspend Semmes' U.S. Coast Guard Captain's license for operating a passenger vessel without a valid Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection (COI).