American ferry operators have been granted licenses to provide services between the United States and Cuba, confirmed spokespersons from two of the companies in question, Ferry Partners LLC and Baja Ferries USA.
“Just this morning Havana Ferry Partners LLC has received the approval from both the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.S. Commerce Department to operate our passenger and cargo ferry from four South Florida Ports to Havana,” announced the company on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, May 5th.
“This is a historical event, thanks to President Barack Obama, to whom we are very grateful, for his leadership,” added the Ferry Partners LLC representative.
Havana Ferry Partners is one of the companies which for many years have been dreaming of becoming one of the main ferry service providers from South Florida to Cuba.
According to the company’s website, the technology they would be using would provide passengers with a more comfortable experience, as well as ample space for baggage and freight, in addition to more economic prices.
Each trip could include over 300 passengers, depending on the type of vessel, with time estimates of around 3 hours to cover the distance between Havana and Florida.
With regards to specific schedules and itineraries, Havana Ferry Partners LLC has said that they will be confirmed at a later date, but will include regular passenger ferry service between Port Everglades and Havana.
The other company that has been granted a license is Baja Ferries USA, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) from Texas, which is already active in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
DoT Updates Travel to Cuba Guidance
In connection with the issuance of the licenses, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) updated its guidance on travel to Cuba.
The FAQ document informs that the passengers who will be able to travel by boat to/from Cuba must be travelling under one of the 12 categories of travel included in the general license.
Cuban nationals applying for admission to the United States, or already there in a non-immigrant status, as well as third-country nationals, with a valid visa or other travel authorization issued by the U.S. government, are also eligible.
This category also includes Cuban immigrants who have taken up residence in the United States, and are licensed as unblocked nationals.
Individuals who are traveling on official business of the U.S. government, as well as employees, contractors, of foreign governments or intergovernmental organizations, and any individual traveling on a diplomatic passport, can also travel between the two countries by boat, accompanied by close relatives.
As for the cargo that can be transported from the United States to Cuba, OFAC informed that this will be the same authorized so far by the CACR.
Ferry operators may transport cargo and baggage accompanying authorized travelers (provided that the export of the cargo and baggage is authorized by BIS), and other cargo or unaccompanied baggage whose export to Cuba is licensed or otherwise authorized by BIS.
The type of cargo that can be imported by boat into the United States from Cuba, as accompanied baggage, is up to $400 of merchandise acquired in Cuba for personal use, of which up to $100 may be alcohol or tobacco products.
How about non-US citizens who want to visit Florida and Cuba on vacation? Say for example I’m from France, flying to Florida to visit Disney World, then taking the ferry to Havana. Then ferry back to Florida for my flight back to France?
How much will the trip to and from cost? I would love to go visit where my family is from.