Ferry services between Cuba and the US, which were prominent in the 1950's, may soon be available to both Americans and Cubans.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury licensed at least four ferry companies to operate between Cuba and the US. The ferries will travel between Florida and Cuba, opening up a path of transportation that has been blocked for over 50 years.
The four companies include United Caribbean Lines Florida in Orlando, Baja Ferries in Miami, Havana Ferry Partners in Fort Lauderdale, and Airline Brokers Co. in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It is unclear how many licenses the Treasury granted, but these four companies are confirmed.
In the past five decades, most travel between the US and Cuba was limited to flights. Many Cubans traveling to and from the US bring large amounts of luggage including tires, medical supplies, food, and clothing. The reintroduction of a ferry service allows for cheaper fares and reduced travel cost, as there is no extra fee for large luggage.
The issued licenses are reflective of President Barrack Obama's efforts to normalize relations between Cuba and the US, a feat he hopes to accomplish before the end of his term. By offering cheaper and varied alternatives in traveling between the two countries, Obama hopes to create more individual interaction between Cubans and Americans, which may help normalize relations between the two nations.
Most of the ferry services hope to transport between two to three thousand passengers a week from Florida to Havana; the ships will carry several hundred passengers. Though authorization from the United States has cleared much of the way for the ferry services, the Cuban government must now approve of the services. The US decision made on Tuesday is expected to encourage the Cuban government to work with the ferry companies in issuing permits. Ferry transportation may be available in the next few months.
Though Obama's efforts to implement openness between Cuba and the United States, the transportation between the two nations is limited to passengers who fit twelve different categories; tourism is currently not permitted. The Treasury listed the categories as, "family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials; and certain authorized export transactions."
