Cheniere Energy to Welcome 1st LNG Ship into the Port of Corpus Christi

The US Port of Corpus Christi is expected to welcome its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo this week. 

As informed, the LNG vessel will arrive at Cheniere Energy’s new terminal at the port.

Once the terminal, currently under construction in Corpus Christi, is fully complete, it will be the third major export facility of its kind in the United States.

The US Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi’s prevention department coordinated three days of instruction to help prepare maritime first responders for the port’s first LNG cargoes.

Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi personnel worked with Cheniere Energy, the USCG Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise (LGC NCOE), and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) to provide introductory and specialized training to various maritime first responders.

Nov. 5, 2018, Lt. Ethan Lewallen, Coast Guard’s Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise, provided two four-hour training sessions to educate over 100 maritime first responders on the basic properties of LNG and how the risks are mitigated on vessels and facilities. Cheniere Energy provided a live demonstration and tour of their new facility.

Nov. 6-7, 2018, Kirk Richardson, Texas A&M TEEX, and Lt. Ethan Lewallen conducted specialized training for Coast Guard marine inspectors of the risks of LNG and firefighting techniques. The marine inspectors also received details on common deficiencies found aboard some ships and how to inspect critical shipboard operational and safety systems.

“This training was the final piece of the puzzle to ensure first responders, port partners, US Coast Guard and the maritime industry are prepared for this new cargo,” Cmdr. Jerry Butwid, Coast Guard, said.

The liquefaction project is being designed for five trains with expected aggregate nominal production capacity of up to 22.5 million tons per annum of LNG.

The total US export capacity is expected to rise to 3.9 billion cubic feet per day by the end of 2018.