MARAD Grants Record-Fast License for ST LNG Deepwater Port in Texas
Cubierto por 3 fuentesPublicado
- GCAPTAIN_NEWSMARAD Approves $8.2 Billion Texas LNG Export Port in Record-Time Review
- US Maritime AdministrationTrump’s Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Approves $8.2 Billion Deepwater Port License Application for ST LNG at Historic Speed
- Marine insightU.S. Approves $8.2 Billion Texas Offshore Deepwater LNG Port to Boost Export Capacity by 9%
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) approved the deepwater port license for ST LNG, LLC, an $8.2 billion liquefied natural gas export project to be built roughly 10.4 miles off the coast of Matagorda, Texas.
Construction of the port is expected to begin in 2027, with service starting in 2029. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the project could generate 2,000 construction jobs and up to 855 permanent positions, while expanding U.S. LNG export capacity by 7% to 9%. gCaptain noted that this expansion is equivalent to up to 8.4 million metric tons annually.
The approval stood out for the speed of the process: MARAD finalized the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) in 410 days, about 3.7 years faster than the historical average, representing a 70% reduction in review time and the fastest deepwater port license review in more than two decades. MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel called the decision the third deepwater port approval under the Trump administration, while Duffy stated that the project represents an economic boost for Texas.
Technical details of the project
At full capacity, the offshore terminal will feature 20 platforms, four liquefaction trains with a capacity of 2.1 million tons per year each, four floating LNG storage units, four mooring systems, and approximately 7.7 miles of pipeline. Feed gas will be sourced from the Tres Palacios Natural Gas Storage and Trading Hub and the Williams Markham Gas Processing Plant, via an existing Transco pipeline located about 5.6 miles northeast of the port.
Shift in the licensing process
The approval of ST LNG is one of the first tests of the Trump administration's decision to transfer leadership of deepwater port license reviews to MARAD, a function previously held by the Coast Guard, which retains responsibilities over maritime safety and vessel traffic. According to gCaptain, since the federal licensing system was established in the 1970s, only 11 deepwater port applications had been approved, with just eight licenses issued.
