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The U.S. Maritime Administration approved Energy Transfer affiliate Blue Marlin Offshore Port's deepwater crude-export license application on November 5, 2026, advancing a proposed $1 billion facility approximately 99 miles off Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The project would allow very large crude carriers to load directly offshore, using converted platform infrastructure connected to Texas and Louisiana supply hubs. Federal officials describe export capacity approaching 2 million barrels per day and up to 1,052 construction jobs. But MARAD's detailed project specifications reveal an important constraint: a single tanker mooring with a maximum loading rate of 80,000 barrels per hour, equivalent to 1.92 million barrels in 24 hours before vessel changeovers, maintenance or weather delays. The approval is a regulatory milestone, not confirmation that construction has begun, financing is committed or cargo operations are scheduled.
From Nederland to a VLCC in Deep Water
Blue Marlin would reuse existing offshore infrastructure and connect it to a new crude pipeline system, allowing large tankers to load without first entering a shallow coastal terminal.
The proposed oil-export chain
Crude enters the system from Energy Transfer's Texas hub and connecting regional pipelines.
Proposed new onshore pipeline reaches the existing Stingray system.
Existing 36-inch mainline and converted offshore platform infrastructure.
Subsea manifold and floating hoses transfer crude directly into an offshore-moored tanker.
The nameplate-capacity distinction
80,000 barrels/hour multiplied by 24 hours. This assumes pumping at the maximum rate without interruption.
Minimum pumping time at 80,000 barrels/hour, before mooring, hose connection, inspections, vessel changeover or weather downtime.
Sources: U.S. DOT announcement, November 5, 2026; MARAD Blue Marlin project description; Louisiana coastal-use application P20200894. Pumping calculations by ShipUniverse.
From Nederland to a VLCC in Deep Water
Blue Marlin would reuse existing offshore infrastructure and connect it to a new crude pipeline system, allowing large tankers to load without first entering a shallow coastal terminal.
The proposed oil-export chain
Crude enters the system from Energy Transfer's Texas hub and connecting regional pipelines.
Proposed new onshore pipeline reaches the existing Stingray system.
Existing 36-inch mainline and converted offshore platform infrastructure.
Subsea manifold and floating hoses transfer crude directly into an offshore-moored tanker.
The nameplate-capacity distinction
80,000 barrels/hour multiplied by 24 hours. This assumes pumping at the maximum rate without interruption.
Minimum pumping time at 80,000 barrels/hour, before mooring, hose connection, inspections, vessel changeover or weather downtime.
Sources: U.S. DOT announcement, November 5, 2026; MARAD Blue Marlin project description; Louisiana coastal-use application P20200894. Pumping calculations by ShipUniverse.
How Much Crude Could Blue Marlin Actually Load?
Stress-test a single offshore VLCC mooring against pump capacity, vessel turnover, weather availability, export demand and project investment economics.
Port operating assumptions
Assumes complete cargo parcels and one tanker at the berth at a time. This is not the project's reported actual output.
Where a VLCC loading cycle spends its time
Source for factual defaults: MARAD and Department of Transportation, November 5, 2026. All other operating and financial defaults are illustrative ShipUniverse assumptions.
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