Maritime Administration Approves Gulf Energy Port License
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced 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. This project is the second deepwater crude oil export facility to receive approval since President Donald Trump issued an executive order on unleashing American energy.
The $1 billion deepwater crude oil export facility will, according to the announcement by the Department Of Transportation: 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,” Duffy said. “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,” MarAd Administrator Stephen M. Carmel said. “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.”
The Blue Marlin Offshore Port will be built approximately 99 miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, La., using existing and converted platform infrastructure in West Cameron Block 509. The port location will allow VLCCs to load in deep water directly, easing inland port congestion and reducing vessel collision and safety risks.
Crude oil supply 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 Blue Marlin application. The review ensured that the facility meets strict safety and security standards while providing American producers direct access to global markets.
The full Record of Decision and associated documents can be found at www.regulations.gov under Docket Number MARAD-2020-0127.
