Port Dolphin Energy LLC has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a certificate of public necessity and convenience to build and operate an on-shore pipeline to connect to its deepwater liquefied natural gas (LNG) port off the West Coast of Florida. In November 2009, the US Maritime Administration and US Coast Guard gave approval to the Port Dolphin project. Port Dolphin is a subsidiary of Hoegh LNG. Located 28mi off Tampa Bay, the new deepwater port will, with its specially designed LNG vessels, deliver natural gas through an undersea pipeline to connect with the state’s pipeline system four miles inland from Port Manatee. The LNG will be returned to a gaseous state onboard the vessels and fed into the pipeline to serve customers across Florida.