United States v. Cheramie Bo-Truc 5, Inc., and Cheramie Bo-Truc 7, Inc.

GEE, Circuit Judge:

Appellants, each of which submitted mandatory reports to the Coast Guard after a vessel belonging to it was involved in a disaster at sea, appeal from the lower court’s imposition of fines proposed by the Coast Guard for violations of 46 U.S.C. § 222 (1970), 1 which provides penalties for failure to man vessels at specified levels. Appellants challenge the Coast Guard’s use of the statutorily-required report as the basis for imposition of a fine, the scope of section 222’s coverage, the Coast Guard’s power to collect fines, and the failure to hold an administrative hearing.…