The San Juan Bay Pilots say they are deeply concerned by efforts from New Fortress Energy (NFE) to promote changes to Law 226 of 1999, which regulates pilotage in all Puerto Rico ports. The pilots say the efforts appear aimed at letting NFE decide how, and with which pilots, its vessels operate in the ports.
They say the current liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply problem is not caused by the pilotage law or port access, but by NFE’s own decisions to put economic interests ahead of agreed safety measures. According to the pilots, NFE agreed with them on the conditions for its vessels to enter San Juan Bay safely, including which ships could operate and the resources required, such as specialized tugboats and other measures the company itself presented to the Coast Guard in its operational protocol.
They say NFE has progressively withdrawn these measures for economic reasons, starting more than a year ago with the specialized tugs, while seeking to bring in larger vessels. A Coast Guard communication dated October 2, 2026 warned NFE of noncompliance with its own protocol. The pilots reject what they call incorrect or misleading information presented to the Legislature, including under oath, to blame them for NFE’s decisions.
They argue Law 226 is working as designed by keeping navigation safety decisions with independent professionals, and that changing it for one company could affect all maritime operators and port safety across Puerto Rico. They urge addressing the causes of NFE’s operational limits instead.