On Tuesday, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker was scheduled to arrive at Cameron LNG’s export plant in Louisiana.
The Golar Seal vessel, drafting about 31 feet or about 77% of its maximum, was seen sailing up the Calcasieu Ship Channel on its way to Cameron.
The US Coast guard said that vessels with drafts less than 36 feet (11 meters) will be allowed to transit the Calcasieu Channel as local and federal agencies clean up obstructions in the waterway after Hurricane Delta.
At the moment, vessels with a draft of more than 25 feet but less than 36 feet are permitted to travel the channel which connects to Cameron LNG and oil refineries in Lake Charles owned by Citgo Petroleum Corp and Philips 66, but only with a local pilot during daylight hours.
There is still no certainty on when the channel would be restored to accommodate full 40-foot deep draft traffic.
