PS: The way to create a sizable fleet of US-flag tankers quickly? Hijack “flagless” vessels on the high seas, bring them to a US port, get a court injunction and reflag them to US. Bingo!!
Yes. I wrote to Trump and told him to seize dozens of dark fleet tankers and LNG ships all over the World and reflag them US.
Those seized tank ships likely cannot pass USCG inspection for entry into US ports.
Once dark fleet tankers are US government owned any USCG formalities can be waived.
What US ports can handle a VLCC?
VLCCs are mostly going to be lightered offshore by smaller tankers. We need to seize some of those too.
That would be akin to forcing American mariners to walk the plank.
We were only talking about USCG inspection requirements.
Of course the seized and reflagged US VLCCs would require American officers and 75% American crew.
I only meant waiver of formal USCG inspection requirements that it would be impractical for older dark fleet tankers to meet. And yes, the VLCCs would need to actually be reasonably safe.
That was entirely my point tugsailor. But, respectfully, let’s leave out “reasonably” shall we.
If they stay owned by the government, sure. The government doesn’t run commercial cargo so why wouldn’t they sell them?
Regardless, even though government vessels are not subject to USCG regs, they always try and stay compliant if for nothing more than safeties sake. The USCG inspection requirements are literally the bare minimum.