U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan

Coast Guard air and surface crews and a Good Samaritan rescue three boaters in distress off the coast of Loíza, Puerto Rico, Sunday night.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a call relayed by a 911 emergency service operator at 7 p.m., Sunday, from a boater reporting that his father had jumped into the water without a life jacket in an attempt to fix their vessel’s outboard engine and was quickly swept away by the sea state and ocean currents. The reporting source further relayed two persons remained aboard the disabled vessel.

Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and a Station San Juan 33-foot Special Purpose craft-Law Enforcement to respond. Watchstanders notified Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action and Loíza Municipal Office of Emergency Management and also issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to alert vessel traffic in the area of the distress.

Moments thereafter, the Coast Guard aircrew arrived on scene, located the man in the water and vectored-in the Station San Juan boat crew to his position, who recovered and brought him safely aboard the vessel. Following the rescue, a Good Samaritan mariner arrived on scene and established a tow with the disabled vessel. The Coast Guard boat crew transported the survivor and escorted the Good Samaritan vessel and the disabled vessel to safe harbor in Piñones, Puerto Rico. No injuries or medical emergencies were reported in this case.

“This case showcased the very best of the Coast Guard and a Good Samaritan working during a rescue that resulted in three lives saved,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Denis Hernández Labiosa, Coast Guard Station San Juan coxswain for the case. “With the assistance of a Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter, we were able to locate and safely recover a person in the water at night. I am extremely proud of my crew’s professionalism, resilience, and commitment to the mission. Their training, teamwork, and ability to remain focused under pressure were key to the successful outcome of this rescue. We greatly appreciate the Good Samaritan for his collaboration which helped bring the boaters and the disabled vessel to safety.”

Our U.S. Coast Guard Puerto Rico crews stands ready to save lives, protect America’s waterways, and support safe maritime activity.



U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico
Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales
Negociado para el Manejo de Emergencias y Administración de Desastres-NMEAD
NFURA

Coast Guard Boat Forces Unit U.S. Virgin Islands, St Thomas Rescue and St John Rescue marine units rescued a boater following a vessel fire near St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Sunday.

Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a radio call on Channel 16 at approximately 5:15 p.m. from an aircraft reporting a vessel fire, approximately 12 nautical miles south of St. Thomas.

Watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and a Boat Forces Unit U.S. Virgin Islands 33-foot Special Purpose craft-Law Enforcement to respond and search for signs of distress. Watchstanders also notified St. Thomas Rescue and St Thomas 911 and they issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to alert vessel traffic in the area.

Shortly thereafter, the Coast Guard vessel, a St Thomas Rescue marine unit and a St. John Rescue unit arrived on scene locating the boater floating and clinging to an overturned dinghy. The Coast Guard boat crew recovered the boater, who informed being the sole passenger aboard the 45-foot catamaran, Abundance, which sank after the fire. The survivor was transferred to a Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services crew, who transported him to Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas.

“A life was saved thanks to the prompt communication from the aircrew who spotted the vessel fire and the swift response from our Coast Guard units, St Thomas Rescue and partner agency units to rescue and aide a boater in distress,” said Chief Petty Officer Adam Rice, officer in charge, Coast Guard Boat Forces Unit U.S. Virgin Islands. “A vessel fire is one of the most dangerous emergencies a mariner can face. We are grateful for the rapid response and the successful outcome.”

Our U.S. Coast Guard Puerto Rico crews stands ready to save lives, protect America’s waterways, and support safe maritime activity.

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
VITEMA
St John Rescue
St. Thomas Rescue
What's Going on St.Thomas?

A Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew and Homeland Security Task Force San Juan Region partner agencies apprehended eight stowaways in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, May 22, 2026.

The apprehended stowaways included four Chinese and four Dominican Republic nationals, who were transferred to Customs and Border Protection San Juan Field Office personnel for further processing.

Sector San Juan watchstanders received an initial report from the Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center stating a visual detection of possible stowaways aboard the inbound barge Charlotte Bridge as it was being towed by the tug vessel Southern Dawn. Watchstanders directed the master of the tug vessel Southern Dawn to hold position outside of the harbor and launched Station San Juan to respond.

The Station San Juan boat crew intercepted the inbound tug vessel and barge and conducted a safety and security boarding. The boat crew safely apprehended eight stowaways and transferred them to awaiting CBP agents at the Puerto Nuevo Terminals of San Juan Harbor.

“The coordination and swift response of the Coast Guard and our partner agencies to apprehend and process these stowaways demonstrates our collective commitment to securing and protecting the U.S. maritime border and navigable waterways in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Coast Guard Sector San Juan chief of response.

This apprehension is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operation in the United States and abroad.



U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command
U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP Air and Marine Operations
Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico
NFURA

Coast Guard, federal and local law enforcement crews will be on the lookout throughout Memorial Day weekend for unsafe boating, illegal passenger for hire vessel operations, and people boating under the influence during the Vieques Music Fest in Vieques, Puerto Rico.

“This Memorial Day weekend, the Coast Guard will be out on the water alongside fellow partner agencies advising boaters to exercise utmost caution and follow safe boating practices to avoid preventable incidents in the water,” said Cmdr. Matthew Romano, Sector San Juan chief of response. “Boat responsibly and don’t operate your vessel while under the influence, doing so is unlawful and threatens the collective safety of your passengers, the environment and other people in the water. We want everyone to enjoy their time in the water and return safely to their families.”

The Coast Guard also cautions the public seeking to gain access to the festival via the maritime route to be on the lookout for illegal passenger for hire vessel operators, and to not contract any operator who refuses or fails to present their captain and vessel credentials. Illegal passenger vessel operators represent a risk to maritime vessels and passenger safety.

Only a captain licensed by the Coast Guard can transport passengers for hire and must do so in a vessel that has the proper lifesaving equipment onboard. Vessel operators who carry passengers for hire without the proper license may face the termination of the voyage and possible fines that may range from $500 to a maximum of $117,608. For more information on illegal charters click on the video link to learn about what to ASK THE CAPTAIN.

The Coast Guard reminds boaters that owners and/or operators are responsible for the safe operation of their recreational vessels, and they must have all the required safety equipment and required documentation. Similarly, operating a recreational vessel under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more is illegal and offenders face termination of their voyage, fines, and up to three years in prison. Additionally, operators of commercial vessels who operate with a level of or greater than .04 percent risk losing their captain’s license.

Agencies and marine units participating in this effort include:
• Coast Guard Station San Juan
• Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action
• Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
• Vieques Municipality

Coast Guard Sector San Juan watchstanders maintain a continuous watch and coordinate closely with partner agencies to ensure the safety and security of Puerto Rico’s ports and waterways. If you know of an operator carrying out an illegal passenger for hire operation you may contact the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center at 787-289-2041.



U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico
Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales
NFURA

Coast Guard Sector San Juan Incident Management Division personnel announced that the vessel owner and salvage contractors in coordination with Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources successfully removed the 43-foot recreational vessel Chiqui Lilly from the rocks off Puerto del Ray Marina in Fajardo, Wednesday.

The vessel owner and contractors also completed the removal of 350 gallons of gasoline from the vessel fuel tanks, Tuesday.

Sector San Juan watchstanders received a report via a Good Samaritan Sunday night reporting the vessel Chiqui Lilly had run aground on the rocks. A Sea Tow Fajardo marine unit arrived on scene and disembarked all nine passengers from the vessel. No injuries were reported in this case.

Sector San Juan Incident Division personnel confirmed that the vessel fuel tanks were carrying over 200 gallons of fuel and that there were no signs of pollution or fuel discharging from the vessel. The Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinator for this case issued a Notice of Federal Interest to the Chiqui Lilly vessel owner to continuously monitor for any discharge of oil from the vessel, and to maintain communications with the Federal On-Scene Coordinator.

Sector San Juan’s situation unit notified partner agencies of the incident including the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.



U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico
NFURA
Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales
Negociado para el Manejo de Emergencias y Administración de Desastres-NMEAD

U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan recognized the San Juan Municipal Police Maritime Unit during the 2025 San Juan Municipal Police ‘Valores del Año’ Awards Ceremony, Tuesday.

The maritime unit was recognized for their critical support to Sector San Juan while conducting a search of a container ship that arrived at the Port of San Juan. Their efforts led to the location and seizure of an illegal narcotics shipment. The flawless operation is a testament to the effective collaboration between our forces in achieving national objectives and highlights the importance of our continued partnership.

Sector San Juan was honored to attend the event represented by LCDR Nathan Borders, CWO4 Daniel Capestany and LT De Jesus Droz who presented the recognition to the unit and crew.

Congratulations to all the award recipients, and Bravo ZULU for a job well done!

U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico
NFURA
San Juan, Ciudad Capital

U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan, in coordination with the Customs and Border Protection San Juan Field Office and Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, welcomed Director Sarah Carter, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Tuesday.

During her visit to Sector San Juan, Director, Carter received an operational overview of interagency counter-drug efforts in the Eastern Caribbean.

The executive level engagement showcased the daily operational coordination between the USCG, CBP and multiple local and federal law enforcement agencies across shore, maritime, and aerial domains, and discussed the current drug smuggling landscape within Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Station San Juan personnel demonstrated a use of force pursuit to stop non-compliant suspect and drug smuggling vessels at sea, while Sector San Juan Prevention provided a tour of San Juan Harbor discussing port matters and vulnerabilities. The visit concluded with a Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter conducting an overflight of the Puerto Rico coastline and geographical landscape in which the Coast Guard and partner agencies operate. These demonstrations illustrated the methods used to support the Coast Guard’s mission of protecting U.S. citizens, maritime borders, and national security.

ONDCP leads and coordinates the nation’s drug policy so that it improves the health and lives of the American people. ONDCP is responsible for the development and implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy and Budget. ONDCP coordinates across 19 federal agencies and oversees a $44 billion budget as part of a whole-of-government approach to addressing addiction and the overdose epidemic. ONDCP also provides hundreds of millions of dollars to help communities stay safe and healthy through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Drug-Free Communities Program.

Sector San Juan appreciated the opportunity to host Director Carter and welcome her future return to our area of operations.



UU.S. Coast Guard SoutheastUU.S. Coast Guard Air Station BorinquenUU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionCCBP Air and Marine OperationsUUS Border PatrolDDepartamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto RicoNNFURA
ONDCP

ICYMI, between April 20 and May 1, Coast Guard Station San Juan successfully delivered two consecutive training courses for maritime personnel from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) and the Puerto Rico Police Department’s Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA).

Upon completion of the course, Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, commander Coast Guard Sector San Juan, presented an accreditation certificate to the 12 DNER and eight FURA crew members who successfully completed the course. Executive FURA and DNER leadership in attendance celebrated the successful collaboration and a shared commitment to maritime excellence.

The rigorous training schedule was developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), a national nonprofit that represents recreational boating authorities across all 50 states and U.S. territories and was executed by Station San Juan personnel. Committed to fostering a culture of safe boating through collaborative national standards, NASBLA provides the expert curriculum necessary to align diverse agencies. During the two-week program participants completed the Boat Crew Member (BCM) Course as well as the Boat Operator for Search and Rescue (BOSAR) Course.

This joint initiative has proven valuable in bridging operational gaps between local, state, and federal maritime agencies. By adopting a unified, whole-of-government approach, the participating agencies significantly enhanced their collective capacity to execute maritime security and search-and-rescue missions across Puerto Rico.



U.S. Coast Guard Southeast
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen
Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales
NFURA
Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Puerto Rico