With support from BlackRock's GIP, MOL, and Vitol, the Louisiana offshore project is set to become the first floating LNG export facility in the U.S. and the largest FLNG development in the world. Delfin Midstream has...
With support from BlackRock's GIP, MOL, and Vitol, the Louisiana offshore project is set to become the first floating LNG export facility in the U.S. and the largest FLNG development in the world.
Delfin Midstream has reached a significant milestone in building America's first offshore LNG export terminal, announcing a final investment decision (FID) for the first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel intended for the Louisiana coast.
On Wednesday, the company stated that Delfin FLNG 1 will have an export capacity of 4.4 million tonnes per year, making it not only the first floating LNG export facility in U.S. waters but also the largest FLNG project globally.
This decision opens up about $5 billion in investments for the project's first phase and comes just over a year after federal regulators approved its development.
A consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), now part of BlackRock, has committed to investing in the project, joining existing investors like Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Vitol, and Diameter Capital Partners.
“Securing FID for our first FLNG vessel is a groundbreaking achievement for both Delfin and global energy security,” said Delfin CEO Dudley Poston. He noted that the project would enhance U.S. energy exports and promote what he called American “energy and maritime dominance.”
This announcement is a major advancement for a project that has been in development for over a decade.
In March 2025, the U.S. Maritime Administration granted Delfin LNG a deepwater port license, marking the first offshore LNG export terminal approved in U.S. history. The project, located approximately 40 miles off the coast of Louisiana, was authorized to use up to three FLNG vessels with a total export capacity of 13.2 million tonnes annually.
Unlike traditional shore-based export terminals, Delfin's development utilizes floating liquefaction vessels connected to existing offshore pipeline systems, minimizing the need for extensive new construction onshore.
The first vessel is supported by long-term LNG sales agreements with major energy companies, including Vitol, Expand Energy, Centrica, and Gunvor, according to Delfin. The company also announced that it has signed construction contracts with Samsung Heavy Industries and Black & Veatch.
MOL President and CEO Jotaro Tamura stated that the Japanese shipping company aims to use its expertise in offshore and floating facilities to aid the project.
Vitol’s Americas CEO Ben Marshall described the investment as a way to provide “reliable, cost-competitive American energy to global markets.”
Delfin expects the first FLNG vessel to start LNG production in 2030 and plans to work on the second and third floating liquefaction vessels in the coming year.