A subsidiary of Epic Crude Holdings LP started the first shipment of crude oil from its ICG terminal in the inner harbor of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in Texas.

Epic Crude Holdings in June 2019 repurposed the IGC terminal, previously known as the International Grain Port Terminal, to export oil while the partnership constructs a larger export terminal, according to a Dec. 11 news release.

Upon completion, the terminal will have two dock facilities, the west dock and the east dock. The west dock, or the IGC, is now in service and can service Aframax tankers that hold up to 750,000 barrels, with a maximum loading rate of 20,000 barrels per hour. The east dock will load Suezmax tankers with a transportation capacity of up to 1 million barrels, at a maximum loading rate of 40,000 barrels per hour. The startup of the east dock facility is slated for the third quarter of 2020.

Epic Crude Holdings was formed to construct and operate the Epic crude oil pipeline, which will run from Orla, Texas, to the Corpus Christi port in Texas. The partnership is backed by capital commitments from the private equity group of Ares Management Corp., along with equity ownerships by Noble Midstream Partners LP, Altus Midstream Co. and Rattler Midstream LP.