A potential deep-water port LNG export project for the Gulf of Mexico has submitted applications to the Maritime Administration and the United States Coast Guard for approval.

Delfin LNG LLC has submitted an application to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to construct, own, and operate the Delfin LNG Project (Port Delfin) under the Deepwater Port Act.

The primary purpose of the proposed project is to provide a safe and reliable facility to liquefy natural gas for export to free trade agreement (FTA) and non-FTA nations under authorizations from the US Department of Energy.

The deepwater port would be capable of exporting up to 443.3 billion cubic feet per year of natural gas or approximately 9.2 million metric tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas.

“We believe that floating liquefaction technology is faster to market, more flexible, and more environmentally friendly than land based liquefaction terminals. As the first floating liquefaction project in North America, Port Delfin will be a significant development in the world’s evolving natural gas markets and an historic milestone for the U.S. oil and gas industry,” said Frederick Jones, the Founder of Delfin.

The project proposes to construct an onshore compressor station and use existing, underutilized pipeline infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico to transport natural gas to four moored floating liquefied natural gas vessels (FLNGVs).

Delfin has signed a supply contract with Lithuanian gas company, Litgas. The facility’s startup date is slated for 2019.

The company signed a joint development agreement with Höegh LNG Ltd. to act as a co-owner, owner’s engineer, and operator of the FLNGVs.

Delfin also has submitted an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the onshore components of the project.