Coast Guard Proposes Anchor Spots for Big Oil Tankers
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Coast Guard wants to add two new deep-water anchor spots near Sabine Pass, Texas, mainly for big oil tankers with deep drafts. This change will make shipping safer and smoother, helping energy move faster and boosting the economy. If you have thoughts, send them in by May 18, 2026—no cost to you, just your voice!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Two new deep-water anchorages
The Coast Guard proposes two new deep-water fairway anchorages about 28 nautical miles south-southeast of Sabine Pass, Texas, with a combined area of about 37.1 square statute miles. They are intended for deep-draft vessels (primarily petroleum tankers) that cannot use existing anchorages because their drafts exceed 40 feet.
Fuel and time savings for vessels
The Coast Guard estimates vessels would save about 30 minutes to 2 hours per trip (average 1.25 hours) by using the new anchorages. The rule estimates annualized fuel cost savings of about $180,125 for U.S.-flagged vessels and about $2,101,007 for foreign-flagged vessels, with discounted present values of roughly $1.3 million (U.S.) and $14.8 million (foreign) over a 10-year analysis.
Voluntary use; charting, not buoys
Use of the two proposed fairway anchorages would be voluntary for any vessel operator and the areas would be identified primarily on nautical charts; there are no plans to place physical markers or buoys. The Coast Guard says there would be minimal costs for vessel operators to document and familiarize themselves with the charted locations.
Construction spacing limits inside anchorages
Designating the two areas as fairway anchorages means construction of fixtures or new structures within the areas would be limited by existing spacing rules (for example, a structure center must be at least 2 nautical miles from the center of any existing structure, and special rules apply when complexes extend more than 500 yards).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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