Ships Not Ahoy
Moon Mist, Susquehanna
Brian Keeler Studio, www.briankeeler.com
Meanwhile, at the other end of the scheme, another subsidiary of New Fortress Energy, Delaware River Partners, LLC, is attempting to maneuver through the necessary approvals to build a facility to transfer LNG from rail and/or truck to ocean-going ships.
Delaware River Export Terminal
Delaware River Partners (DRP), an affiliate of New Fortress Energy LLC (NFE), is applying for the necessary permits to build a dock in Gibbstown, Greenwich Twp., Gloucester County, NJ for the purpose of loading LNG onto ships bound for foreign ports. According to a DRP permit application, the Gibbstown Logistics Center terminal would generate over 1,650 truck trips each day, the majority of which would carry LNG. Natural gas liquids would also be handled there. (“Drainage & SWM Report for Route 44 Truck Bypass and DuPont Port Access, Township of Greenwich, Gloucester County, NJ” Prepared for: Gloucester County Improvement Authority Prepared by: McCormick Taylor, Inc., February 2019, Page 2)
NFE/DRP propose to add a dock with two more shipping berths to the Gibbstown terminal’s one dock that is already under construction, potentially tripling the activity at the facility. The terminal is also equipped to handle rail cargo, up to 40 rail cars on a rack at one time, transloading LNG 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. At least 24-36 ship passages of loaded LNG or natural gas liquid (NGL) vessels would pass on the Delaware River each year.
The Gibbstown site is located adjacent to the residential community of Gibbstown, including schools, playgrounds, and public buildings. Transport by truck and rail will require this flammable and potentially explosive cargo to be carried hundreds of miles through Pennsylvania and New Jersey – including the Greater Philadelphia and Chester region and into New Jersey’s Camden and Gloucester County communities. The highly dangerous loading of LNG directly to ships by pipes will be a continuous operation with no storage. Natural gas liquids (NGL) will be stored on site in an old underground cavern. The entire property is a highly polluted site that was owned by DuPont as an explosives manufacturing plant and by other industries that added to the contamination.
In September 2022, the Delaware River Basin Commission, without public notice or public comment, gave Delaware River Partners a three-year extension to build its Dock 2 on the Delaware River. Broad public criticism follows the decision. http://www.paenvironmentdigest.com/newsletter/default.asp?NewsletterArticleID=56350&SubjectID=58
