SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A Coast Guard Sector San Juan inspections team discovered an Anhydrous Ammonia hazardous cargo shipment threatening the safety and security of the Puerto Nuevo Terminals (PNT) port facility, Wednesday.
A Coast Guard investigation into the situation is ongoing.
A team of three Coast Guard Marine Science Technicians conducting a routine examination at the facility identified three tank-containers, one of which was deemed to be unlawful, with more than 5,000 gallons of Anhydrous Ammonia, a hazardous, highly toxic and corrosive gas or colorless liquid which is flammable in high concentrations. The product is used for various industrial applications including detergents, pesticides and fertilizers, among others.
After the finding, an interagency team including personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Coast Guard Investigative Services (CGIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigrations and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Army National Guard, and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted a sweep of Puerto Nuevo Terminals, inspecting other containers.
The port facility’s inability to meet safety compliance measures regarding their firefighting capability continues to be an ongoing concern for the Coast Guard. A Coast Guard Captain of the Port Order was issued to Puerto Nuevo Terminals on Feb. 27, 2025, explicitly prohibiting the facility from storing and handing certain hazardous materials due to the facility’s lack of adequate firefighting capability. Anhydrous Ammonia was included among the prohibited hazardous cargoes. For more information about the Feb. 27 action by Sector San Juan Captain of the Port, review this linked press release.
“We appreciate the diligence of our Coast Guard inspection team and interagency partners in our shared commitment to port safety and security, as our investigation into this matter continues,” said Capt. Robert E. Stiles, acting Coast Guard Sector San Juan commander and acting Captain of the Port. “We will continue to devote all the necessary resources to ensure that HAZMAT is handled in compliance with federal laws and regulations to safeguard the local population and to prevent a catastrophic incident from impacting maritime industry operations, which are so vital to the economy of Puerto Rico.”
In accordance with 46 U.S.C . § 70036, failure to comply with a Captain of the Port Order is punishable by a civil penalty of up to $117,608 for each occurrence and day of violation. Willful and knowing violation of a Captain of the Port Order is a class D felony, punishable by up to six years in prison (18 U.S.C. § 3581) or fines of up to $250,000 for an individual or $500,000 for an organization (18 U.S.C. § 3571).
Waterfront facilities designated to handle, store, load, discharge or transport dangerous cargo are required to provide adequate quantities and locations of fire extinguishing equipment to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 307 in the absence of State or local laws, in accordance with 33 CFR 126.15(a)(1). NFPA 307 requires hydrants at least every 300 feet and a sufficient hydrant water supply. This suspension does not prohibit PNT from handling non-hazardous general cargoes.
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