Earlier today, I joined a Transportation and Infrastructure hearing to speak with the Deputy of Operations Policy and Capabilities in the U.S. Coast Guard, David Barata, and the Director of Justice and Homeland Security Programs for the U.S. Government’s Accountability Office, Heather MacLeod. During the hearing, I had the chance to ask them about the “ghost-ships” in the Caribbean and their environmental implications.

Ghost-ship vessels operate in the shadows. They’re often found with unofficial documentation, and many fail to meet basic international safety standards. And when our Coast Guard boards them, they’ve reported rusted and aging vessels, dangerous overloading, and outdated navigation technology. 

All of this matters, specifically in a state like Florida, where these carriers pose real environmental risks to the Gulf. If one of these ships were to spill oil, taxpayers and coastal communities would be left for remediation.

The bottom line is that illegal oil trafficking through substandard vessels threatens our environmental well-being and national safety—that’s why it demands oversight.