2-year effort to set up ferry service to Cuba runs aground
Although charter flights to Cuba have now been approved from a dozen U.S. airports, an effort to establish cheaper ferry service between the two countries appears to have run aground, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
About 400,000 Cuban Americans, who are allowed to visit family on the island whenever they wish under more relaxed policies by the Obama administration, flew to the island on authorized charter flights last year from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and a handful of other U.S. cities.
But Havana Ferry Partners' application for ferry service out of Port Everglades, Fla., has languished for two years, the newspaper says. The company, which would use a 600-passenger ferry to the island, proposes to charge $50 less than the $400 roundtrip airfare.
At least three other companies are eyeing a similar service, the newspaper says.
A U.S. Treasury Department official told the newspaper in an e-mail the department cannot comment on specific licenses.
Progress seems unlikely during an election year, the newspaper says, because it could alienate conservative Cuban-American voters who want to tighten, not loosen, the 50-year-old U.S. economic embargo on the Caribbean island.
"In an election year, that company has a better chance of joining Newt Gingrich's colony on the moon," John Kavulich, senior adviser to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, tells the Sun-Sentinel. The New York-based group helps companies interested in business with Cuba.
Havana Ferry Partners is so frustrated that it is now pushing for one-time permission to carry passengers to Cuba for Pope Benedict XVI's visit scheduled for March 26-28, the newspaper says.
Update at 12:42 p.m. ET: Leonard Moecklin, vice president for Havana Ferry Partners, tells On Deadline that his company has already officially applied to the U.S. government for permission to provide service for the papal visit, has a boat on standby and could complete final preparations if he gets an OK by March 1.
We live in Florida and have been hoping for this type of service. After so long denied, the chance to visit Cuba is tantalizing.
Posted by: Harry | February 16, 2012 at 02:37 PM
I definitely enjoyed reading it, you may be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and will often come back someday.
Posted by: Helga | February 14, 2012 at 09:13 AM