Port authority concerned about LNG tankers

EASTPORT – The Eastport Port Authority in a letter to the governor Tuesday said Canada has a right to look out for its citizens when it comes to LNG ships in Passamaquoddy Bay.

The announcement is a first for the port authority.

In its letter to Gov. John Baldacci and members of Maine’s congressional delegation, the port authority officials said it was concerned about the impact the LNG tankers would have on commercial shipping to and from the city’s port at Estes Head.

Three developers have announced that they plan to build liquefied natural gas terminals Down East. The Oklahoma-based Quoddy Bay LNG hopes to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in neighboring Pleasant Point, while the Washington, D.C.-based Downeast LNG wants to build a facility in Robbinston. A third company hopes to build a terminal and tank farm in Calais.

Ships would have to travel through Head Harbor Passage, near Campobello Island on their way to the various LNG ports farther up the bay.

The port authority officials said they were concerned that increased shipping traffic would have an adverse impact on the port.

“Although we do not believe that a single tanker once every week or so will unduly disrupt shipping, we are concerned about the prospect of a much heavier volume of LNG tankers if two or more LNG terminals were to be built in Passamaquoddy Bay,” George “Bud” Finch, chairman of the port authority, wrote.

Finch also noted that the port authority agrees with the Canadian government about ship traffic in a portion of the bay. For months now the Canadian government has argued that that stretch of waterway along Head Harbor Passage is internal water and therefore subject to its jurisdiction.

Proponents of LNG have argued that the right of innocent passage applies to that area and the Canadian government cannot stop the LNG tankers.

“Recently the Canadian government stated that it will not permit LNG tankers to transit Head Harbour Passage because of environmental and navigational risks,” the letter said. “We are comfortable in our ability to work with our Canadian neighbors with respect to cargo ships that are destined for the port of Eastport and fully believe they have the same rights as our government when it comes to ensuring the health and welfare of their citizens in determining safe passage.”

Quoddy Bay project manager Brian Smith said Tuesday that his company commissioned a marine traffic study that says that increased shipping would not have an adverse impact on the bay. “It showed a very, very minimal impact on any ship … going to the port of Eastport,” he said. “Something like 3 percent of ships are delayed a little bit more, but it’s not something that leads to a significant change in the already current delays already associated with weather,” he added.

But the port is concerned about three LNG facilities. “The impact of one site on the port’s business would not necessarily be significant, while three would be, and no one company can speak for the other two,” the port letter said. “We will continue as a port to work with the Coast Guard to ensure protection of the port’s business and assess the impacts based on three sites as long as they remain on the table.”

Rob Wyatt, a spokesman for Downeast LNG, said Tuesday that “it’s a thoughtful, well-expressed letter, and the process of the project review is based on the receipt and consideration of these types of comments.