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plant in Westlake that will use natu- ral gas to make ethylene and other products that will require tankers.”

And, he said, “G2X Energy plans to build a natural gas-to-gasoline facility at Port of Lake Charles that will need vessels.” Sasol is based in South Africa while G2X Energy, Inc. is headquar- tered in Houston.

The LNG boom that most think will come will also have other local impact. “The number of Calcasieu

River pilots will probably double from 17 now by 2025,” Broussard said. So, too, will the need for additional work- boats in the form of high powered tugboats. “LNG carriers each have at least two dedicated tugs now. We’re looking at nearly two dozen tugs in the channel by 2025.” But he said it’s hard to get a good grip on tug num- bers. “Some of them are here all the time, while other tugs come and stay awhile but it’s not their home base,”

Broussard said. Cargo at West Cam- eron Port, located in Cameron, La., includes crude oil, baroid, coal and grain.

Safety Precautions Will Increase

As Vessel Traffi c Grows

Local offi cials are already hard at work to determine changes that LNG will bring to the local traffi c schemes.

For example, Ausenco Consulting was hired by the Port of Lake Charles to study how LNG exports will impact

Calcasieu channel traffi c. Broussard explained, “Ausenco is in the middle of doing that study now and could be fi nished by year-end. Of course, the Coast Guard will have fi nal say on traffi c safety, and it may issue ad- ditional rules for the channel at some point. A recent Coast Guard ruling addresses the number of pilots on certain-sized ships in the Calcasieu

River.” Ausenco, based in Australia and Canada, has a Houston offi ce.

The U.S. Coast Guard is working with federal, state and local partners to keep the Calcasieu shipping chan- nel safe and secure, Lieutenant Will

Fediw, the Guard’s Marine Safety

Unit chief in Lake Charles, said last month. “The Coast Guard, in part- nership with channel users, reviews

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