Maritime Administration approves Energy Transfer’s $1 billion Blue Marlin offshore crude export port

The U.S. Maritime Administration granted a deep‑water port license for the Blue Marlin Offshore Port, a project developed by an Energy Transfer affiliate. The facility, located about 99 miles off Cameron Parish, Louisiana, will be able to export up to 2 million barrels of crude oil per day using a converted gas platform and new pipelines. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and MARAD Administrator Stephen Carmel announced the approval, which clears a major regulatory hurdle for the project.

The approval enables a new export route that could increase U.S. crude‑oil shipping capacity and reduce reliance on congested inland ports, potentially affecting logistics and regional employment. The company expects the project to create 1,052 construction jobs and 39 permanent jobs, according to the regulators.

  • 1The Maritime Administration approved the Blue Marlin Offshore Port license on 5 Nov 2026.
  • 2The port can export up to 2 million barrels of crude oil per day.
  • 3The project’s estimated cost is $1 billion.
  • 4The facility will be located approximately 99 miles off Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
  • 5Energy Transfer will convert an existing natural‑gas pipeline to carry oil to the offshore terminal.
  • 6Regulators expect the project to generate 1,052 construction jobs.

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