“A cornerstone of an effective national maritime policy is gaining access to private, commercial cargoes that create steady demand for U.S.-flag vessels, American mariners, and the shipbuilding industrial base,” the unions wrote in a letter to senior Administration officials. The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), American Maritime Officers (AMO), the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (MM&P), and the Seafarers International Union (SIU), which represent the majority of U.S. Merchant Mariners sailing in the U.S.-flag fleet, argued that aligning American foreign policy and energy needs with “Ship American” principles would strengthen the U.S. maritime workforce, reduce reliance on foreign-controlled shipping, and counter the growth of opaque “shadow fleet” tanker operations used to move sanctioned oil outside U.S. oversight.

The unions warned that current restrictions on Venezuelan oil have shifted global trade toward foreign-controlled shipping networks, including opaque “shadow fleet” tankers operating outside U.S. labor and safety standards. As a result, U.S. maritime workers and carriers are excluded from energy cargoes that could otherwise support American shipping capacity and enforcement objectives.