ALBAWABA - The U.S. Coast Guard is holding off on boarding a Venezuelan-linked oil tanker, awaiting reinforcements, a U.S. official and a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. They've been tracking the vessel since Sunday, with plans to take control.
The vessel, known as Bella 1 according to maritime tracking, has denied Coast Guard officials permission to come aboard.
The task will probably be assigned to one of two specialized units: Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRT). These teams are equipped to board ships in these situations, employing tactics like helicopter rappelling.
The extended chase underscores the disparity between the Trump administration's efforts to capture Venezuelan oil tankers, which were under U.S. sanctions, and the Coast Guard's constrained capabilities in executing these missions.
The Coast Guard, unlike its Navy counterpart, possesses the legal power to carry out law enforcement operations. This includes actions like boarding vessels and confiscating them, all under the umbrella of U.S. sanctions.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an order for a "blockade" against all oil tankers subject to sanctions that were either arriving in or departing from Venezuela. This move represents the most recent U.S. attempt to intensify pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The Coast Guard has recently intercepted two oil tankers in the vicinity of Venezuela.
Following the initial seizure on December 10th, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a brief, 45-second video. The footage depicted two helicopters drawing near a ship, with armed individuals in camouflage gear then rappelling onto the vessel's deck.
A Saturday social media post from the Department of Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard, featured what seemed to be Coast Guard personnel on the USS Gerald Ford. They were getting ready to deploy and take control of the Centuries, the second ship the U.S. had boarded.
A U.S. official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that the Coast Guard members on the Gerald Ford are part of the MSRT. However, they are currently too distant from Bella 1 to attempt a boarding.
The Department of Homeland Security hasn't offered any comment, and Reuters hasn't been able to figure out why the Coast Guard hasn't boarded the ship yet, if there's a specific reason at all.
