Canal

With the expansion of the Panama Canal complete, liquefied natural gas (LNG) leaving the Gulf Coast has a shorter and less costly route to Asian and South American markets.

When the third set of locks at the Panama Canal opens for business Sunday, it will mark the historic widening of the canal and improve the economics of shipping petroleum and other products. U.S. propane exports will see the greatest benefit, at least for now, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Train 2 of the Gladstone LNG project on Curtis Island in Australia has begun producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), contractor Bechtel said Wednesday. Meanwhile, work at Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass Terminal in Louisiana is advancing. And a widened Panama Canal is expected to see transit of larger vessels beginning next month.

The world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership, the Isla Bella, made its first journey through the Panama Canal on Oct. 30, just two weeks after shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO made delivery of the ship to owner TOTE Maritime (see Daily GPI,Oct. 19).

As the widening of the Panama Canal nears completion, the canal authority has proposed new tolls that are intended to encourage the transit of liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes through the passage.

Trunkline LNG said the Calcasieu Ship Channel and Industrial Canal were cleared for vessel transit to its LNG receiving terminal at Lake Charles, LA effective Monday. Users of the ship channel can obtain current information from the Lake Charles Pilots at (337) 436-0372, Trunkline LNG said.