Transportation Department Approves $1 Billion Blue Marlin Offshore Port License: Louisiana Deepwater Port to Export Up to 2 Million Barrels of Crude a Day
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in Washington on November 5 that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has approved a deepwater port license application for Blue Marlin Offshore Port, LLC off the coast of Louisiana. The $1 billion deepwater crude oil export facility is the second deepwater crude oil export facility to receive approval since the President issued an Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy.
The department said the facility will support creation of up to 1,052 construction jobs, export up to 2 million barrels of crude oil per day (80,000 barrels per hour) to fortify the energy security of America's allies, and enhance the United States' ability to accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
“The Trump Administration is laser-focused on securing energy dominance for the next generation of Americans because energy security is national security,” said Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Building this port will unleash domestic production, create more than 1,000 good-paying construction jobs along the Gulf of America, and open vital supply lines to global markets that will solidify our nation as the world's largest energy exporter.”
“Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Duffy, MARAD continues to swap out antiquated regulations to deliver unprecedented results,” said MARAD Administrator Stephen M. Carmel. “Authorizing the Blue Marlin deepwater port license—our fourth such approval under the Trump Administration—demonstrates our ability to safely accelerate critical energy projects that bolster our supply chains and lower energy prices.”
According to the department, the Blue Marlin Offshore Port will be built approximately 99 miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, Louisiana, using existing and converted platform infrastructure in West Cameron Block 509. The location will allow VLCCs to load in deep water directly, easing inland port congestion and reducing vessel collision and safety risks. Crude oil for the port will be sourced from a dedicated pipeline system connecting major inland supply hubs in Texas (including the Nederland Terminal area) and Southwest Louisiana to the offshore platform network.
MARAD partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard, numerous federal agencies and the states of Texas and Louisiana during the comprehensive review of the application, which the department said ensured the facility meets strict safety and security standards. The full Record of Decision and associated documents can be found at regulations.gov under Docket Number MARAD-2020-0127.
(Source: U.S. Department of Transportation)
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：原油油轮 Alpine Melina 号在海上航行（资料图）。Niels Johannes 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The crude oil tanker Alpine Melina at sea (file photo). Photo by Niels Johannes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
