Massive Oil Tankers Drift Off Seal Beach Coast During Coronavirus

SEAL BEACH, CA — The U.S. Coast Guard has increased monitoring of oil tankers near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, they reported Friday morning. With U.S. oil reserves full, nearly 30 oil tankers have become veritable floating storage units, according to reports.

If you keep an eye to the coast, it's impossible to miss the sight of those ships and the busy Coast Guard that is protecting them in north Orange County. Not since the port strike of 15 years ago have so many vessels been parked at sea, awaiting uncertain berths ahead.

Plummeting oil prices and a worldwide economic slowdown stemming from the coronavirus outbreak have caused an over-supply of oil in the United States, reports say. Companies have no more facilities to store oil, forcing them to use ships for storage. According to the Los Angeles Times, the demand for oil since the coronavirus pandemic began has dropped from 100 million barrels o oil per day to 30 million barrels worldwide.

The supply chain has stalled, and tankers have transformed into floating storage, a spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute told the Times.

That has led to the increase in security surrounding those ships, according to the Coast Guard.

"Due to the unique nature of this situation, the Coast Guard is constantly evaluating and adapting our procedures to ensure the safety of the vessels at anchor and the protection of the surrounding environment," Cmdr. Marshall Newberry from Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach wrote in a statement.

According to Newberry, Coast Guard watchstanders, in partnership with the Marine Exchange of Southern California, are closely monitoring each anchorage to manage the increased number of tank vessels we're seeing off the California coast.

Full coronavirus coverage: Coronavirus In California: What To Know

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