Oct. 27--MANATEE -- The Port Dolphin's proposal to build a deepwater port off Anna Maria Island inched closer to licensing Monday.

A record of decision was signed in Port Dolphin Energy LLC's application for a license to build a deepwater liquefied natural gas port about 28 miles off Anna Maria Island.

The regulatory requirement awarded to Port Dolphin's proposal clears the company to receive a project license from the U.S. Maritime Administration.

"We are pleased at the progress we have made in meeting the regulatory requirements for our new deepwater (liquefied natural gas) port," said Sveinung Stohle, president and chief executive officer of Hoegh LNG, Port Dolphin's parent company.

"The port will be an important new source of much-needed natural gas for the state of Florida."

The offshore deepwater port will be a platform where ships can unload liquefied natural gas that will be shipped through a pipeline, which would come ashore at Port Manatee.

In September, Manatee County commissioners said they would support a compromise route for the proposed Port Dolphin pipeline if the county could remove high-quality beach sand in the pipeline's path.

The county opposed the pipeline's original route because it crossed prime sources of sand used for beach renourishment.

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