Potential for Deepwater Port Development in the United States

The development of deepwater ports in the United States has received much attention in recent years, primarily because of the increasing size of oil tankers and the country's increasing reliance on oil imports. Large tankers offer the most economical method for moving large volumes of crude oil over long distances. Because the United States does not have deepwater port facilities capable of handling the commonly used large tankers, oil must be transferred from large to smaller vessels before delivery.