The tanker Amur River, carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), has been stranded for days several miles off Puerto Rico’s coast, unable to dock at New Fortress Energy’s (NFE) pier due to a dispute with the San Juan Bay Pilots. Natural gas is typically 40%-60% cheaper than the diesel used by power plants, so the delay is driving up electricity costs for Puerto Ricans.
The pilots have had a lawsuit against NFE since August 2025 over alleged irregular practices in importing LNG tankers, originally involving tugboat requirements and a court stipulation governing the Energos Princess and Energos Maria vessels. The current crisis worsened when the Energos Maria went into dry-dock maintenance and the Energos Princess ran out of cargo and left the bay, prompting NFE to deploy the larger Amur River.
NFE maritime attorney Alberto Castañer Padró said the crew had to be resupplied with food after running out while awaiting docking clearance. Federal Judge Silvia Carreño Coll held an emergency hearing and ordered both parties to file a joint motion certifying the pilots received all necessary information and are comfortable with the docking maneuver. Castañer said NFE provided standard data, but the pilots demanded an unusually exhaustive list and, after NFE offered two meetings to discuss it, instead filed a contempt motion.