Re-gas vessels have recently been developed (2005) as an alternative to onshore LNG import terminals. The vessel provides for the on-board regasification of LNG and discharge the high pressure gas directly into the transmission system via a dedicated mooring arrangement (STL buoy) and subsea high pressure pipeline, thus bypassing the need for the onshore terminal. This new concept has several advantages: less stringent regulatory requirements than onshore terminal, less security concerns, greater flexibility as the system is relatively easy to move to meet demand at varying locations