US Approves Cuba Ferry Service

By David Adams

MIAMI, May 5 (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday authorized licenses for passenger ferry service between the United States and Cuba, a Treasury Department official advised Reuters.

One of the licenses was issued to Baja Ferries, a part of a significant delivery group with passengers and cargo operations, together with on Mexico’s west coast, in line with a lawyer who dealt with the license software.

Ferry providers between Cuba and the United States have been lower off within the early Nineteen Sixties, following the Cuban revolution that introduced Fidel Castro to energy.

In December, the United States and Cuba introduced plans to resume diplomatic relations after 54 years, and have since held excessive stage talks.

“The ships are ready to go,” stated Robert Muse, a Washington-based lawyer who represented Baja Ferries and focuses on Cuba embargo issues. “This is a further step in bringing Cuba and the United States closer together.”

The Treasury Department official from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which handles financial and commerce sanctions, wouldn’t say what number of licenses had been authorized.

“I can confirm that OFAC has issued certain specific licenses for passenger ferry service, but we cannot provide additional details as to whom or how many,” stated Hagar Chemali, a spokeswoman for the OFAC.

She famous that Cuba rules haven’t modified and no common license was issued authorizing passenger ferry service to Cuba.

“Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis,” she added.

The ferry corporations nonetheless want approval from the Cuban authorities earlier than they’ll start operations.

(Editing by Andre Grenon)