Entertainment · Celebrity · 2 hrs ago
Below Deck Captain Kerry Titherage Says ICE Agents Boarded His Yacht Off Florida
Below Deck captain Kerry Titherage was sailing back to Miami after a nine-day trip in the Bahamas.
The yacht, owned by an NBA star, was about 10 miles off Florida when a second engine failed, leaving it in rough waters.
Titherage called for help, but boats carrying officers from ICE and Customs and Border Protection approached instead.
He reportedly refused to slow down until it was safe, and the officers followed the yacht for nearly two hours.
Agents boarded and searched the yacht, and checked the passengers’ passports, including one guest’s visa.
The yacht was allowed to continue after the checks, and Titherage’s representative said everyone left safely; no further action was described.
Captain Kerry Titherage said federal agents boarded his yacht off Florida after two engines failed during a return trip to Miami.
Page Six reported that vessels operated by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection followed the yacht for about two hours.
Titherage initially refused to slow down because he believed doing so in rough conditions would be dangerous.
Agents searched the yacht and checked passengers’ passports before allowing it to land.
A representative for Titherage said everyone left safely; ICE did not respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
- Who
- Captain Kerry Titherage and federal agents from ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- What
- Agents boarded and searched the yacht after two engine failures. They also checked passengers’ passports.
- When
- Not stated.
- Where
- About 10 miles off the Florida coast, as the yacht was sailing back to Miami.
- Why
- Titherage said slowing down in rough conditions would be dangerous. The reason for the agents’ approach was not stated.
Captain Kerry Titherage
Federal agents
Slowing down
Captain Kerry Titherage
Titherage refused at first because he believed slowing down in rough waters would be dangerous.
Federal agents
Agents demanded that he slow down and allow them to board.
Boarding
Captain Kerry Titherage
Titherage did not allow the agents on until he could slow down safely.
Federal agents
The agents followed the yacht for about two hours before boarding.
Titherage was sailing the yacht back to Miami when one of its four engines failed.
A second engine failed as conditions grew rough, and Titherage called Towboat US for assistance.
Two federal vessels approached, and agents demanded that Titherage slow down and allow them to board.
The agents boarded after Titherage was able to slow down safely, searched the yacht and checked passengers’ passports.
- Engines
- Two of the yacht’s four engines failed.
- Trip
- Titherage had just captained a nine-day trip in the Bahamas.
- Location
- About 10 miles off the Florida coast.
- Federal vessels
- One operated by ICE and one by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- Following period
- About two hours.
What people are saying
We are glad the situation didn’t escalate and that everyone left safely.