This is a problem with Military Sealift Command, which operates these vessels with civilian mariners (CIVMAR). MSC has had recruitment and retainment problems for a long time. These problems compound because, for instance, mariners are denied leave due to staffing shortages, causing more mariners to leave the service entirely.

CIVMARs were treated really badly during COVID which ended up creating a slow-moving problem that is now coming to a head with a collapse of the service.