LOOP Wraps Up Second VLCC Loading Operation

Louisiana Offshore Oil Port LLC (LOOP) has completed the second very large crude carrier (VLCC) loading operation at its deepwater port, located 18 miles off the coast of Port Fourchon, Louisiana.

The vessel in question is the VLCC Nave Photon, which was chartered by Houston-based Shell Trading Company US, Reuters said citing sources close to the matter.

AIS data from Marine Traffic shows that the 297,395 dwt unit departed the port on March 24. Reuters added that Nave Photon is taking the cargo to Asia.

LOOP, the owner of the only U.S. crude oil deepwater port, loaded its first Supertanker, the Saudi Arabian-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) Shaden, in February.

The VLCC, which was previously used at the facility for test loading of crude oil, left LOOP on February 18 carrying 2 million barrels of oil and is expected to arrive in Rizhao, China by mid-April.