The US Coast Guard is scrambling for new personnel right now, putting out an urgent call to beef up teams responsible for inspecting and repairing oil tankers seized at sea. This massive operational ramp-up is a direct result of President Trump’s aggressive new policy targeting Venezuelan oil exports, and it looks like the seizures will continue for the foreseeable future.
The Coast Guard recently issued a request for more inspectors to travel out to these confiscated tankers after the president abducted the Venezuelan president. Their job is to assess the vessels and quickly fix any serious safety concerns that might prevent the ships from being accepted at U.S. ports. If you’re thinking these are standard cargo ships, think again. Many of the stateless vessels being taken into custody are described as being “beyond substandard.”
