\nTropical Breeze owners Alex and Mollie Kolokithas, who themselves have a rather questionable past that includes the murder of one of their former colleagues, haven’t addressed the accident on the website or Facebook page. They did, however, release a statement to local news outlets to “extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected.”<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nBack to business, the casino is advertising incentives to get gamblers on the casino boat. Tropical Breeze is running one excursion Monday through Thursday, and two Friday through Sunday. Patrons are being enticed with free gaming credit and lower table minimums.<\/p>\n
Investigation Ongoing<\/b><\/h2>\n
According to US Coast Guard licensing qualifications, a person cannot apply for a captain’s license when they do not have a valid driver’s license. Previous alcohol and drug-related offenses do not disqualify an applicant, but typically a substantial period of time must pass before someone with such convictions can obtain a captain’s permit.<\/p>\n
The Coast Guard has not revealed exactly when Batten was issued his license. Tropical Casino says it’s cooperating with Coast Guard investigators.<\/p>\n
“The vessel was most recently inspected in March 2017, and it received its renewed Certificate of Inspection at that time,” the company explained. “The March inspection included not only a review of the vessel’s interior and engine systems, but the vessel was also removed from the water for an examination of its hull.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The casino shuttle boat that caught fire on January 15 just moments after departing Port Richey, Florida, was captained by a man who has a lengthy criminal record that includes a DUI conviction. The US Coast Guard says Tropical Breeze Casino shuttle boat Captain Michael Batten, 37, held a valid 100-ton captain’s license, despite the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":67997,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,60,18],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Deadly Casino Shuttle Boat Captain Underwent Substance Abuse Classes<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n