SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard Sector San Juan announced Saturday that Captain of the Port Orders were issued to two Togo-flagged multipurpose offshore vessels for obstructing the navigable San Antonio Channel of San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, while moored at Pier 10, May 1, 2026.
Until further notice, vessels Water Spirit 2 and Admiral Pride will not be cleared to re-enter San Juan Harbor unless they demonstrate to the Coast Guard their ability to moor in accordance with well-established industry standards without impacting the safe navigation of vessels within the harbor's finite waterways.
Under Title 46 USC § 70036, any person in violation of these orders is subject to a maximum civil penalty of $117,608 for each day of a continuing violation.
“The Coast Guard is committed to ensuring the safe flow of maritime traffic within San Juan Harbor and other federal channels in our area of responsibility,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodríguez, commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan and COTP San Juan. “It is critical for commercial, military, and recreational traffic to have equitable and safe access to the federal navigable waterways in the bay. While urban development has displaced some cargo operations, facilities still exist to accommodate these vital supply vessels. Laying anchor in the channel and reducing its navigable capacity is unlawful, endangers navigation, affects the local economy and puts the safety of our maritime facilities and vessels at risk.”
Mediterranean mooring is only permitted when no part of the vessel or its anchors encroaches upon navigable channels.
The Captain of the Port advises all waterway users that anchoring or tying up vessels in navigable channels in such a manner as to prevent or obstruct the passage of other vessels is prohibited under 33 USC 409. Navigable channels are established by law primarily through the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard oversees compliance with no discretion to waive or permit such violations. To raise broader awareness of these and other hazardous conditions in San Juan Bay, Sector San Juan has issued a Marine Information Safety Bulletin to the maritime industry.
The San Antonio Channel, one of the busiest in the Eastern Caribbean, is approximately 1.2 miles long and measures just 300 to 500 feet wide, classifying it as a narrow channel under navigation rules. Some of the world’s largest cruise ships, measuring over 1,100 feet long and 150 feet wide, make regular port calls to San Juan. These vessels frequently moor just across from where vessels Admiral Pride and Water Spirit 2 used the med-mooring technique while obstructing the navigable channel.
For additional information regarding this issue or to address specific concerns, please contact the Sector San Juan Waterways Management Department at ssjwwm@uscg.mil or call (787) 729-2300.