Approved Applications and Operational Facilities

To date, eighteen Deepwater Port License Applications have been filed for approval. Sixteen applications were filed for licenses to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and two applications were filed for licenses to import oil.

Seven applications have been approved; of the seven applications that have been approved, six licenses have been issued to import both LNG and oil; currently one license is pending for an approved application for an LNG port proposed for construction and operation in the Gulf of Mexico.

Additionally, one application has been denied; six applications have been withdrawn or are inactive; and four applications are currently under review.

Gulf Landing (U.S. Gas & Oil, LLC)  (Project Deferred)
Gulf Landing, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell U.S. Gas & Oil, LLC, filed an application on November 3, 2003.  The proposed facility is a Gravity Based Structure to be located thirty-eight miles offshore of Louisiana.  The Record of Decision was issued on February 16, 2005 and the license was issued on April 29, 2005.  The Fifth Circuit court upheld the Maritime Administration's decision to issue a license to Gulf Landing.  

In March of 2007, Gulf Landing announced its intent to indefinitely defer further activity and ultimately, construction of this project.

Website: None
Link to the Federal Docket for Gulf Landing at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2004-16860)

Main Pass Energy Hub (FreeportMcMoRan)
Main Pass Energy Hub, LLC filed an application for a deepwater port license on February 27, 2004.  The application was deemed incomplete and after the submission of supplemental information, the application was deemed complete via a Federal Register Notice on June 22, 2004.  The proposed facility is to be located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana.  On May 5, 2006, the Governor of Louisiana used the adjacent coastal state authority to veto the project based on proposed use of the open-loop regasification system and the possible environmental impacts to the marine life in the Gulf of Mexico.

On May 31, 2006, the applicant resubmitted an amended application, proposing the use of a closed-loop regasification system. The revised application was deemed complete and the supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) on the proposed change was circulated for public comment.  A favorable Record of Decision was issued by the Maritime Administration on January 3, 2007.

However, the Maritime Administration has not issued the license for this project due to the applicant’s inability to meet the financial responsibility requirements of the Deepwater Port Act.  A License will not be issued until this specific requirement is met to the satisfaction of the Maritime Administration.

Website: Main Pass Energy Hub
Link to the Federal Docket for the Main Pass Energy Hub at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2004-17696)

Neptune LNG (Suez LNG N.A.)
Neptune LNG LLC filed an application on February 15, 2005 for an LNG facility to be located in Massachusetts Bay, 10 miles south of Gloucester and 22 miles Northeast of Boston.  On January 31, 2007, the Maritime Administrator signed a favorable Record of Decision for the Neptune project.  The favorable Record of Decision was contingent upon the applicant's commitment to employ U.S. mariners aboard its vessels servicing the Neptune facility. On March 26, 2007, the Maritime Administration issued a Deepwater Port License to Suez LNG to build, own, and operate an LNG receiving and regasification facility.

Current Status:  On October 31, 2008, pipeline construction activities were completed for the 2008 calendar year.  The second phase of construction is scheduled to resume in May 2009 and end in September 2009.

Website: Neptune LNG LLC
Link to the Federal Docket for Neptune LNG at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2005-22611)

Port Pelican (Port Pelican, LLC)
Port Pelican, LLC (Port Pelican), an affiliate of ChevronTexaco Corporation, submitted an application for a DWP license on November 25, 2002 to construct an LNG gravity based structure facility off the coast of Louisiana.  The Port Pelican Deepwater Port license was issued on January 20, 2004.  The Port Pelican license was the first deepwater port license issued in over 25 years.  

On July 11, 2005, Port Pelican LLC provided a letter to the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard that it formally announced plans to defer further environmental studies for the construction site thereby placing the project on hold indefinitely. On October 4, 2005, a Notice of Cancellation was published in the Federal Register.  Although the Port Pelican project remains on hold indefinitely, under the Deepwater Port Act, Port Pelican must continue to remain current on its statutory requirement to make annual payments of the fair market rental value rates for the proposed deepwater port site.

Website: None
Link to the Federal Docket for Port Pelican at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2002-14134)  

Gulf Gateway Energy Bridge (Excelerate Energy)
Gulf Gateway Energy Bridge, LLC (Gulf Gateway), formerly El Paso Energy Bridge Gulf of Mexico, LLC, is now owned by Excelerate Energy Limited Partnership and a Deepwater Port License Application was filed on December 20, 2002.  

The Gulf Gateway site is located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana and consists of a Submerged Turret Loading (STL) system that is comprised of a submerged turret buoy; chains, lines and anchors; a flexible riser; and a subsea manifold.  A Record of Decision was issued on December 31, 2003, and the license was issued on May 26, 2004.  This was the second license issued under the Deepwater Port Act since the law was amended in 2002.  

Offshore construction of Gulf Gateway was completed in February 2005 at a cost of approximately 70 million dollars.  The first cargo delivery was made on March 17, 2005, from the world's first liquefied natural gas re-gasification vessel, EBRV Excelsior.  On March 20, 2005, Gulf Gateway successfully commenced operations.  

Gulf Gateway has a baseload capacity of 500 million cubic feet per day with a peak capacity of 690 million cubic feet per day.  The EBRV Excellence delivered liquefied natural gas to Gulf Gateway on May 11, 2007.

Website: Gulf Gateway
Link to the Federal Docket for Gulf Gateway at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2003-14294)

Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (Marathon Domestic LLC)
The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is the only Deepwater Port petroleum terminal in existence today.  LOOP is located 16 miles southeast of Port Fourchon in the Gulf of Mexico.  LOOP was built by a group of major oil and pipeline companies, and has been operational since 1981.  It serves as an unloading and distribution port for incoming supertankers to the Gulf region.  The petroleum is piped north to Lafourche Parish, where it is stored and piped to markets throughout the country. LOOP has announced future plans to expand its port storage capacity and construct a new pipeline.  To date, no expansion plan has been submitted to the Maritime Administration or the U.S. Coast Guard.

Website: Louisiana Offshore Oil Port
Link to the Federal Docket for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2000-6981)

Northeast Gateway (Excelerate)
Excelerate Energy filed an application on June 13, 2005 for a Deepwater Port terminal located in Massachusetts Bay, approximately 13 miles south-southeast of the city of Gloucester, MA and in federal waters approximately 270 feet in depth.  On February 7, 2007, the Maritime Administrator signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port project.  The favorable decision was contingent upon the applicant's commitment to employ U.S. mariners aboard its vessels servicing the Northeast Gateway LNG facility.  On May 14, 2007, Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton signed the license for Excelerate to own, operate and construct the Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port.  Construction on the Deepwater Port commenced on May 27, 2007.  Northeast Gateway received its first LNG cargo through the port system in May of 2008 and continues its operations to date.

Current Status: On February 2, 2009, Excelerate confirmed a second delivery to the port to commission a newly-constructed Energy Bridge Regasification Vessel.

Website:  Northeast Gateway
Link to the Federal Docket for Northeast Gateway at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2005-22219)