Captain Kerry Titherage of 'Below Deck' in Tense Encounter with ICE Off Florida Coast
The reality TV captain recounted a two-hour ordeal with federal agents after his yacht experienced engine failures.
Captain Kerry Titherage, a familiar face from the Bravo reality series "Below Deck," found himself in a tense encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents while navigating off the Florida coast. The incident occurred after the yacht he was captaining experienced multiple engine failures during its return trip to Miami from the Bahamas.
According to reports, the vessel suffered two engine failures approximately 10 miles offshore, leaving Titherage struggling to maintain control in rough waters. After calling for assistance from Towboat US, Titherage was instead approached by two federal law enforcement vessels.
One boat carried three to four agents, while the second had seven to eight officers wearing masks. The agents reportedly demanded that Titherage slow the yacht to allow them to board. Citing over 30 years of maritime experience, Titherage expressed concern that reducing speed under the challenging conditions could be dangerous. The federal vessels followed the yacht for approximately two hours before Titherage was able to safely reduce speed and permit boarding.
During the inspection, agents searched the yacht for contraband and examined the passports of the passengers. They reportedly spent about an hour scrutinizing the visa of a foreign national on board before allowing the yacht to continue to its destination.
A representative for Captain Titherage stated, "We are glad the situation didn’t escalate and that everyone left safely." ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Captain Titherage first appeared on television in "Below Deck Adventure" in 2022. He later took over as captain of the flagship "Below Deck" series in 2024, succeeding longtime star Captain Lee Rosbach.