MarAd approves Florida LNG port

MarAd approves Florida LNG port    The U.S. Maritime Administration has approved a plan to build a liquefied natural gas import terminal 28 miles southwest of Tampa in the Gulf of Mexico.
   Acting Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda on Monday signed the “record of decision” that approved Port Dolphin Energy LLC’s application to own, operate and construct a deepwater port to import LNG.
   Port Dolphin will initially deliver about 400 million cubic feet per day of natural gas into the Florida, with the ability to triple that amount when operating at peak capacity. The terminal will connect with existing pipelines that deliver natural gas throughout Florida.
   Construction of the Port will commence in early 2013 and is to take about 11 months to complete.
   Port Dolphin also agreed to support MarAd’s U.S. Crewing Initiative to provide employment and educational opportunities to U.S. officers, mariners and cadets in operating LNG tankers serving the terminal.