Delfin LNG has advanced the development of its second floating LNG vessel off the U.S. coast, moving the Gulf of Mexico project another step closer to a final investment decision and construction start, gCaptain reported.

The report confirms work on the second vessel is under way at the developer, which is building an offshore liquefaction complex rather than a conventional onshore terminal. The company's scheme centers on floating production hulls moored in the U.S. Gulf, connected to existing pipeline infrastructure that can feed natural gas from onshore basins directly to the liquefaction units.

Delfin's project is one of several floating LNG concepts competing to add U.S. export capacity without the footprint and cost of a land-based plant. A second vessel advancing through the development pipeline signals the developer's intent to scale the scheme beyond a single hull.

What does the second vessel mean for U.S. LNG capacity?

A second floating liquefaction vessel would roughly double the export capability of the offshore complex, adding incremental U.S. LNG supply at a time when developers across the Gulf Coast are racing to sanction new trains and vessels to meet contracted demand from European and Asian buyers.

Floating LNG offers a shorter construction timeline than onshore terminals in some configurations, and the hull-based design lets developers phase capacity in vessel-sized increments rather than committing to a full multi-train facility at once.

What is the watch item?

The critical milestone remains the final investment decision on the second vessel, along with any engineering and offtake agreements that would underpin it. Rig & Refinery will track Delfin's permitting status, contractor awards and FID timing as the Gulf Coast floating LNG race develops.