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A routine return from a Bahamas charter turned into a tense standoff at sea when Captain Kerry Titherage, at the helm of an NBA star’s yacht, was shadowed and ultimately boarded by federal agents, including masked ICE officers, sources tell Page Six.
Engine failures leave yacht vulnerable near Miami
The incident began after a nine-day charter in the Bahamas. While making the trip back to Miami, the vessel experienced mechanical trouble.
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- One of the yacht’s four engines failed first.
- About 10 miles off the Florida coast, a second engine stopped working.
- Sea conditions were worsening as the crew managed navigation.
Captain Titherage contacted TowBoatUS for help. Instead of a tow, two federal cutters arrived. The sudden presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection added pressure to an already risky seamanship situation.
Federal vessels trail and confront the yacht
According to people familiar with the event, the two government boats kept the yacht under close watch while conditions remained unsafe for an unscheduled slowdown.
- One of the federal boats carried roughly three to four agents.
- The other reportedly held seven to eight officers, many of them masked.
- Agents demanded the yacht reduce speed and permit boarding.
Titherage declined to slow down immediately, citing navigational risks given the damaged propulsion and choppy waters. The federal vessels continued to escort the yacht for about two hours as the captain searched for a safe opportunity to slow the ship.
Boarding, inspection and passport checks
Once conditions allowed, federal officers boarded the yacht. They conducted a search for contraband and reviewed travel documents for everyone on board.
Officials spent extended time examining the paperwork of a female guest who was not a U.S. national. Sources say that visa scrutiny lasted roughly an hour before the team cleared the vessel to proceed to port.
The boarding and inspection concluded without arrests or reported escalation. A representative for Titherage later emphasized that the situation ended without further incident and that everyone departed safely.
Who was involved and how they acted
Eyewitness accounts emphasize a tense but controlled exchange. The captain’s priority, according to crew members, was safe navigation rather than compliance that might compromise the yacht in poor conditions.
- Engine failures created a navigational hazard.
- Federal cutters approached and requested compliance.
- The captain maintained speed until a safe slowdown was possible.
- Agents boarded, inspected, and then allowed the yacht to continue.
Public response and agency silence
Representatives for the captain issued a conciliatory statement noting relief that the situation did not escalate and that all aboard were safe. Requests to ICE for comment did not receive a response by press time.
Captain Kerry’s rise to a high-profile command
Kerry Titherage became a familiar face on reality TV when he first appeared on Below Deck Adventure in 2022. He later assumed command of the flagship series in 2024, succeeding Captain Lee Rosbach. Since then, he has led voyages that mix luxury charter work with national exposure.
