Suez Energy proposes U.S.-flag re-gas ship for LNG import plant

Suez Energy proposes U.S.-flag re-gas ship for LNG import plant U.S. Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton announced July 21 that Suez Energy, as part of its proposed liquefied natural gas import plant application, will commit to the construction of a U.S.-flag LNG regasification vessel.
   Suez Energy proposes to build a deepwater LNG import plant 10 miles off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The application requires approval from the Maritime Administration and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist after the Coast Guard completes a rigorous environmental impact study.
   The proposed U.S.-flag regasification vessel would be moored at the deepwater port to provide continuous vaporization of LNG provided by standard LNG carriers. If the weather should become severe, such as in the case of a hurricane, the vessel will move under its own power to safety and return to the deepwater port buoy to reconnect and continue operations after the storm has passed, Connaughton said in a statement.
   “Placing the transportation of LNG under the control of U.S. mariners, who are subject to strenuous background checks, will add an additional layer of safety and security to our energy supply chain,” Connaughton said.
   There are no U.S.-flag LNG vessels. The last one left the U.S.-flag registry in 1999.
   Earlier, Suez Energy signed manning agreements for the LNG tankers that will serve its deepwater port under construction off the coast of Massachusetts. Further, the Suez flagging and manning agreement “mirrors one signed by Woodside Natural Gas for its proposed facility off the coast of Southern California,” the administrator said.