Seapath And Pilot LNG Joint Venture To Develop First Dedicated LNG Bunkering Facility in U.S. Gulf Coast

JV will develop, construct, and operate a terminal in Galveston Bay area supporting LNG- powered vessels, vital to strengthening U.S. maritime industry and ongoing decarbonization efforts.

Seapath, a maritime subsidiary of Libra Group, and  Pilot LNG, LLC (Pilot), a Houston-based clean energy solutions company, today announced  that they have formed a joint venture (JV) to develop, construct, and operate the first  dedicated liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering facility in the Galveston Bay area. 

With operations beginning in mid-2026, the construction of the new facility will provide fuel  for LNG-powered vessels. With an initial investment of approximately $150 million, Pilot and  Seapath’s LNG bunkering facility will use their combined expertise to serve the needs of a  vital global and U.S. trade corridor. According to the Greater Houston Partnership, the  Greater Houston waterways generated over $906 billion in economic value to the U.S. in  2022. The Greater Houston area was named the top U.S. port by tonnage in a 2023 report  by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Led by LNG industry veterans with extensive experience on the terminal and marine side,  Pilot aims to deliver LNG to new and existing markets across the U.S., including  fuel/bunkering terminals and related infrastructure. This is the first in a series of planned  strategic investments by Seapath and Pilot to create a network of LNG facilities in areas of  unmet need in the U.S.  

“Seapath is dedicated to investing across the marine infrastructure space and will provide  strong financial backing to Pilot’s LNG bunker projects,” said Jonathan Cook, CEO of Pilot.  “We look forward to working with Seapath in delivering this facility in a timely manner  based on the extensive development work already completed. This project will meet the  significant needs for LNG fuel, which also supports ongoing decarbonization across the marine industry.” 

A U.S. company led by Merchant Mariners and former service members, Seapath was  formed responding to the need for critical investments in the U.S. maritime economy. While  LNG bunkering infrastructure has been developing overseas, U.S. infrastructure supporting  its uptake has been slower. In addition to this facility, the company plans to invest  strategically in innovative projects within maritime industrial facilities and U.S. Jones Act  vessels. 

“The infrastructure under development will provide LNG to a growing market seeking  cleaner marine fuel, particularly as customers look for economical ways to comply with  tightening emissions regulations, including regulations set by the IMO in 2020,” said  Seapath CEO Greg Otto. “We are pleased to be working with a first-class team in Pilot and  with some of the leading ports in the United States to bring this critical LNG bunkering  infrastructure to the Gulf Coast region where there is high demand for it. Thanks to our  valuable partnership with Pilot, we look forward to developing more of these much-needed  facilities in ports across the United States.” 

As the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has advanced its global  strategy for maritime decarbonization, LNG has emerged as a cleaner, more  environmentally friendly alternative to traditional marine fuels. It has the potential to  significantly reduce vessel emissions, including cutting nitrogen oxide emissions by 80-90% 

and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% over heavy fuel oil. LNG’s unique physical  and chemical properties, including its inability to ignite in liquid form, make it a safer  alternative to traditional marine fuels. According to Clarkson Research, alternative fuel powered vessels were approximately 60 percent of all new vessels ordered since 2022. Of  these orders, roughly 80 percent are vessels powered by LNG, including by major cruise  lines and operators of container vessels. 

Seapath is one of three maritime subsidiaries of Libra Group, a privately owned business  group whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in nearly 60 countries with six business  sectors, including maritime and renewable energy. Libra’s other maritime holdings include  Lomar Shipping, a global shipping company with a fleet of more than 40 vessels, and  Americraft Marine, which owns and operates a Jones Act Shipyard in Palatka, Florida that  constructs crew transfer vessels to service the growing offshore-wind industry and  traditional inland-marine assets such as tugboats and barges. 

“Libra Group is committed to advancing innovation across our sectors, from maritime, to  aerospace, to renewable energy and more. As a global organization, we will harness insights  from across our network to bolster the uptake of more sustainable technologies to advance  our sectors while identifying potential applications across our other sectors,” said Manos  Kouligkas, CEO of Libra Group. “Adoption of more sustainable fuels is critical to future proofing our industries against a rapidly changing ecosystem. We will continue to support  the transition to greener energy solutions, and we look forward to following Seapath’s work  to evolve the U.S. maritime industrial sector.” 

Pilot and Seapath plan to continue their ongoing front-end engineering and design  development for their projects in the third and fourth quarters of 2023 to file applications  with the necessary federal and state agencies to permit, site, construct, and operate the  small-scale LNG terminal for marine fuel. Pilot and Seapath anticipate announcing the Final  Investment Decision (FID) details of their project by the second half of 2024. 

About Pilot LNG, LLC 

Pilot LNG is a clean energy solutions company focused on delivering liquefied natural gas  (LNG) to new and existing markets by developing and operating LNG import and LNG  fuel/bunkering terminals and related infrastructure. The company aims to establish LNG  terminal and logistics opportunities worldwide to meet growing natural gas demand by  supplying clean-burning LNG to the rapidly expanding fleet of LNG-fuel vessels. For more,  visit: www.pilotlng.com. 

Contact: Email: [email protected] 

About Seapath 

Seapath (www.seapathgroup.com) is dedicated to advancing America’s infrastructure and  competitiveness. Seapath focuses on maritime industrial technology, port real estate, Jones  Act vessels, and broader areas of maritime need. Seapath partners with key stakeholders to  modernize critical infrastructure and advance projects driving the nation’s economic  resilience and industrial competitiveness forward. Seapath is a maritime subsidiary of Libra  Group, a U.S.-headquartered privately owned global business group whose subsidiaries own  and operate assets in nearly 60 countries.  

Contact: Email: [email protected]

About Libra Group 

Libra Group (www.libra.com) is a privately owned, global business group that encompasses  30 operating entities: 20 businesses predominately focused on aerospace, renewable  energy, maritime, real estate, hospitality, and diversified investments, as well as 10  philanthropic initiatives housed within Libra Philanthropies. With assets and operations in  nearly 60 countries, the Group applies the strength of its global network and capabilities to  deliver cross-sector insights and growth at scale. Libra Philanthropies is an independent  foundation that creates, supports and scales philanthropic initiatives that aim to shape the  future of individuals, communities, and generations for the better.  

Contact: Email: [email protected]