One of the latest developments in the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is the use of offshore deepwater ports. Instead of bringing double-hulled container ships to coastal ports, a number of new endeavors are underway that will allow the ships to anchor at a platform several miles off the coast and unload its LNG cargo.
LNG is natural gas that is refrigerated until it reaches a liquid form. This takes up less room and is far simpler to transport than natural gas in its usual form. Converting the gas into liquid requires keeping the substance very cold. As a result, special pipelines, transport trucks and ships must be fabricated to complete the task.
One of the new endeavors recently meeting approval to receive a license from the U.S. Maritime Administration is a deepwater port about 28 miles off the coast of Florida. This platform, like any other, would reduce the amount of travel for the ships and the time presently spent at ports maneuvering in and out of more shallow and congested waterways in order to deliver cargo. For some shore ports, there is even a waiting time until high tide comes in. Otherwise, these waterways are too shallow for large and heavy LNG transport ships to traverse. Deepwater ports eliminate that problem.
Platform endeavors like the one in Florida must first go through a rigorous set of plan proposals and reviews with both federal and local area government agencies before the oil and gas company can receive a permit. Environmental impact studies for both onshore and offshore areas that may be affected by these endeavors must first be completed and approved. This involves not only the placement of the dock, but the exact route of the pipeline through the ocean and across land to its transport destination.
Once this happens, the Maritime Administration allows the company to start laying groundwork to start building. A number of requirements and inspections must be further met during the construction process in order to allow project completion.
As the popularity and usefulness of LNG increases, the number of offshore endeavors will grow. One reason is the economic efficiency of using established deep sea ports. It is very expensive and involved to build one. However, once it is functional, the long-term efficiency will save both time and money for the suppliers and consumers. The endeavors will, over time, pay for themselves. Many costs currently associated with LNG and natural gas in its non-liquid state will be eliminated.
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