For industry watchers and historians on both sides of the Atlantic, December 31, 2015 marked a historic sailing date. That day the Theo T left the Port of Corpus Christi, moving Texas extra light crude to Europe. The cargo was fittingly referred to as "Liquid American Freedom" by some U.S. lawmakers. It was the first tanker in 40 years to transport crude oil from the U.S. after the export ban was lifted by President Barack Obama in December. Former President Gerald Ford had enacted the ban during the height of the 1970s oil crisis. The tanker had a full hold of Eagle Ford light shale oil, sold by ConocoPhillips to Vitol Group, a Swiss trading group and the world's largest independent oil traders. After years of legal wrangling, and intense lobbying, the cross-Atlantic sailing opened the door to major opportunities for the domestic oil industry.
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