USCG Discovers Dangerous Ammonia Levels at Puerto Rico Terminal Breaching Safety Regulations

On March 26,the U.S. Coast Guard launched an investigation after an inspection team stumbled upon a tank of hazardous anhydrous ammonia at the Puerto Nuevo Terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This finding is notably concerning as it breaches a recent USCG directive aimed at halting the handling of dangerous cargo due to safety issues.

Just last month, the terminal was ordered to cease operations involving hazardous materials like anhydrous ammonia because it lacked sufficient firefighting resources. However,during a routine check weeks later,inspectors found this dangerous shipment—an alarming situation that raises serious safety and security concerns for everyone involved.

The inspection revealed three tank containers; one was flagged for containing over 5,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia—a highly toxic and corrosive substance that can be flammable in concentrated amounts. This chemical is commonly used across various industries such as agriculture for fertilizers and in manufacturing processes like detergents and pesticides.

In response to this finding, a multi-agency team swept through the facility to search for additional hazardous materials. It’s worth noting that while there are restrictions on handling dangerous goods, non-hazardous general cargo remains permissible at the terminal.

#Breaking On Wed.,@uscg Sector San Juan personnel discovered a #HAZMAT cargo shipment of Anhydrous Ammonia at the Puerto Nuevo Terminals (PNT) port facility in #PuertoRico. A #USCG investigation regarding the facility’s safety compliance is ongoing. ????????
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— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) March 27, 2025

Capt. Robert E. Stiles from Sector San Juan emphasized thier commitment: “We’re dedicated to ensuring HAZMAT is managed according to federal regulations so we can protect local communities and avoid any catastrophic incidents affecting maritime operations.”

The Coast Guard has consistently expressed concerns about PNT’s failure to meet essential safety standards related to firefighting capabilities when dealing with hazardous materials. After multiple warnings and failures by PNT