First US-flagged LNG carrier begins service to Puerto Rico
The vessel operates under a multi-year charter with Naturgy, delivering LNG from the US Gulf Coast to the EcoEléctrica terminal in Peñuelas, Puerto Rico.
IMAGE: An LNG tanker escorted by tugboats navigates through coastal water. Getty Images
Crowley, a US-owned shipping and logistics company, has started operating the American Energy, which became the first LNG carrier under the US flag to transport domestically sourced LNG to Puerto Rico on 18 June.
It is a 900-foot (274-meter) US-flagged LNG carrier, and can transport up to 34.4 million gallons (130,400 cbm) of LNG per voyage.
Governor Jenniffer González-Colón said, "This represents a major step forward in fuel supply reliability to stabilize our electric grid, which will greatly benefit our population."
The move comes after the US proposed rules in April 2024 requiring at least 1% of LNG exports to be shipped on US-flagged and -operated vessels by 2028, and on US-built ships from 2029. The share rises to 15% by 2047.
In a revised draft earlier this month, the United States Trade Representative removed export licence penalties, shifted reporting duties to exporters and allowed a three-year grace period for using foreign-built ships if a US-built one is on order.
By Gautamee Hazarika
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