Maritime Law--Ferries Between Florida and Cuba Now Licensed in U.S.

According to several news sources, passenger ferries could be set to run between Florida and Cuba for the first time in more than 50 years after the U.S. government approved 5 new ferry services on May 5, 2015. The U.S. Treasury granted licenses to at least five American companies to operate ferry services to Cuba for the first time in more than a half century, potentially bringing the former Cold War antagonists closer. These companies include Airline Brokers Co. of Miami, Baja Ferries USA, Havana Ferry Partners, United Caribbean Lines and America Cruise Ferries of Puerto Rico. Services between the two countries had stopped in 1960 when the U.S. imposed a trade embargo on Cuba. However, the U.S. announced the restoration of diplomatic ties in December 2014, an issue I have blogged on before.

President Obama shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at April's Summit of the Americas

Photo AP

These granted licenses do not necessarily mean that ferries will start launching for Cuban shores any time soon, as there are bureaucratic hurdles to overcome in both countries. The proposed ferry services must still obtain Cuba’s approval, but certainly, the U.S. move clears the way for negotiations. It is unclear at this point how receptive Cuba’s government would be, as it seeks to balance economic benefits with concerns that any sudden change could endanger the island’s one-party rule.

The proposed ferry services would be able to take passengers in 12 approved categories, including family visits, educational, cultural and religious activities. While President Obama has eased restrictions on travel between the two countries, tourism is still not permitted. The idea set out by the ferry services is to attract passengers with tickets that are cheaper than airplane fares and large free baggage allowances. It is difficult to see how the ferry services can state they are able to offer cheaper prices than the airlines, when they do not know the costs on the Cuban side of the equation.

There could be a further stumbling block on this idea, as it is reported in the Miami Herald that Cuba does not allow people born on the island to arrive or depart from Cuba by water. Cuba would need to change that law if these ferry operators hope to be able to undertake these services.

If you are interested in receiving a copy of the Miami Herald article on this news or wish to reach me, you may write to me at mov@chaloslaw.com.

Comments

ReThink + ReUse Center "It's How We Roll" Fun Raiser -- Bowling Night -- October 16, 2014

As many of my readers may be aware, I am the Chair of the ReThink + ReUse Center, a non-for-profit educational and environmental Center in Miami educating children into rethinking reuseable materials for learning through play. The ReThink and ReUse Center’s Quality Play is Learning Program provides a series of educational and participatory workshops based on the philosophies of Reggio Emilia and Harvard's Project Zero Visible Thinking. The Children’s Trust is the major funder of this program, but the Center is required to continually fundraise for the balance its annual budget. The Center is having a fun event you are invited to--the ReThink + Reuse Center’s “It’s How We Roll” bowling event on October 16, 2014 at Splitsville Luxury Lanes from 18:00 to 21:30 hours. My firm, Comcast and Waste Management are major sponsors for this event, but we could use a few more sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please let me know by reaching me at mov@chalos...

Maritime Law--Florida's Arbitration Code Is Now Revised

Those of us that practice maritime law regularly must always be on the lookout for the contract that may contain an arbitration clause. Thus, any laws related to arbitration are important to those of us practicing in this sector. The Florida legislature has revised the Florida Arbitration Code ("FAC") and named it the Revised Florida Arbitration Code (the " Revised Act"). Since 1967, the FAC had gone mostly unchanged. The Revised Act addresses concepts that were not addressed in the old law, such as the ability of arbitrators to issue provision remedies, challenges based on notice, consolidation of separate arbitration proceedings, required conflict disclosures by arbitrators, among other major changes. The Revised Act lays out a detailed framework for international arbitration conducted under Florida law and repeals sections of the FAC. The Revised Act spells out what experienced arbitrators knew the case law to be, but codifies it all in one pl...

Maritime Law--Lozman Case Revisited in Miami?

In Hoefling v. City of Miami , Case no.: 14-12482 (11th Cir. Jan. 25, 2016), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit revived almost all of Hoefling's claims. You ask, "Who is Hoefling?" Hoefling lived on his sailboat Metis O moored off Dinner Key for nearly a decade—until the day he came home and it was gone. About three months earlier, an officer from the Miami Police Department's Marine Patrol Detail tagged Hoefling's vessel for lacking a sanitary device and a working anchor light. He had a deal to use the facilities at the nearby marina but quickly went out and reportedly bought what he needed to comply. Three months later while he was on a business trip, the City of Miami seized and destroyed his boat and all his belongings. As a result, he was homeless. He sued under § 1983, maritime law, and state law. He stated a claim under the Fourth Amendment for seizure and destruction without notice or cause and a “taking.” At the ...

Miami Shipping Law

Search This Blog