Entry of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Amur River into San Juan Bay was suspended again on Monday, October 12, because of wind speeds at the bay entrance, delaying natural gas for Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA (AEE), or PREPA) plants that have spent weeks running on a costlier fuel. Around 12:30 PM, New Fortress Energy (NFE) was told the San Juan pilots would not guide the vessel; maneuvers had been set to begin at 11:30 AM. The San Juan Bay Pilots Association told the federal court it would guide the tanker only if wind was below 10 knots.
Winds at the bay entrance measured between 13 and 15 knots at the time of the cancellation, per NFE’s monitoring, and 10.55 knots at 11:00 AM. NFE had asked for entry between 6:00 and 10:00 AM and said the pilots’ schedule included 10 vessels in the window it considered favorable. Forecasts suggest favorable winds around 6:00 PM. Monday; otherwise NFE would ask for entry on Tuesday.
The Amur River carries gas for units 5 and 6 of the San Juan plant, now running on diesel, and for temporary generation units at Palo Seco and San Juan. U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorized entry Monday morning, and the Coast Guard confirmed authorization Sunday. The tanker was due to dock September 16.
Federal Judge Silvia Carreño Coll authorized its entry on October 1, ordering NFE to pay for additional tugboats. On Tuesday, Judge María Antongiorgi Jordán will preside over a hearing in a case brought for PREPA by the Independent Procurement Office (3PPO) seeking to activate contract clauses allowing a third party to deliver gas to NFE’s terminal.