The United States Coast Guard finds itself in a holding pattern, unable to immediately board and seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker it has been chasing for days, as it awaits the arrival of specialised boarding teams. The situation exposes a gap between the Trump administration's aggressive policy of intercepting sanctioned vessels and the operational constraints faced by the maritime service tasked with executing it.
Multi-Day Chase Highlights Operational Limits
The vessel, identified by maritime observers as the Bella 1, has reportedly refused attempts by the Coast Guard to board it since the pursuit began on Sunday. According to an official and a source familiar with the operation, the complex task of forcibly boarding the tanker will likely fall to one of only two elite units, known as Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRT).
These teams are specially trained for high-risk boardings, including techniques like rappelling from helicopters onto a vessel's deck. A US official clarified that while MSRT personnel were deployed on the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, they were too distant from the Bella 1 to initiate an operation at the time.
Corey Ranslem, CEO of Dryad Global and a former Coast Guard member, underscored the scarcity of such resources, stating, "There are limited teams who are trained for these types of boardings." The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard, has not commented on the delay or any other factors preventing the seizure.
Trump's 'Blockade' Order Tests Coast Guard Resources
This protracted pursuit unfolds against the backdrop of an order from President Donald Trump earlier this month for a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. This move represents Washington's latest effort to intensify pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Despite the ambitious policy directive, the Coast Guard's capabilities in the region are notably fewer than the substantial US Navy presence, which includes an aircraft carrier, fighter jets, and other warships in the Caribbean. While the Navy provides a massive show of force, it is the Coast Guard that possesses the specific law enforcement authority required to board and seize vessels under US sanctions.
The service has successfully seized two other oil tankers near Venezuela in recent weeks. Following the first seizure on December 10, Attorney General Pam Bondi released a dramatic video showing helicopters approaching a ship and armed personnel rappelling onto its deck.
A Service Under Strain and in 'Readiness Crisis'
The incident casts a spotlight on the broader resource challenges consistently highlighted by the US Coast Guard. The service juggles a wide array of missions, from search and rescue to drug interdictions, and has long argued it lacks the assets to manage them all effectively.
In a stark warning to lawmakers in June, Admiral Kevin Lunday, who leads the Coast Guard, declared, "The Coast Guard is in a severe readiness crisis that is decades in the making." He further cautioned that the service is "less ready than in any other time in the past 80 years since the end of World War Two" and that its downward spiral is unsustainable.
The financial picture is a mix of sustained need and temporary relief. For the fiscal year ending September 2026, the Coast Guard has requested $14.6 billion. It is also set to receive an additional $25 billion through a major spending and tax bill known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."
Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed that the pursuit of the Bella 1 remains active, describing it as part of "Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion." The administration retains the option not to ultimately board the vessel, leaving the outcome of this high-stakes maritime standoff still uncertain.
