United Yacht Transport Looks Into Still Water's Voyage Into Cuban Water
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- With the
opening up of Cuba's waters, the first U.S. Charter Yacht made its
voyage to the country last month. United Yacht Transport, the North
American leader in boat transport, takes a look into the expedition and
its impact on the yachting community.
Superyacht Numarine 78 Flybridge M/Y Still Water was the first American
charter yacht to sail into the waters of Cuba. The last time this was
legal was in the early 1960's, prior to the trade embargo being imposed.
Still Water cruised into the Marina Hemingway in Havana loaded with 15
people, including both crew and passengers.
The entire process to be granted the ability to carry out this voyage
still took approximately 7 months. The trip, however, only took about 4
hours to travel from Key West, Florida to Cuba. It is anticipated that
being granted permission for Cuban voyages may be facilitated now that
the U.S. Embassy officially opened in Havana on August 14th.
The opening up of Cuba's waters provides more travel opportunities for
yachters, which leads to more business for yacht transport companies.
There is an anticipated rise in transports to Cuba in the coming years,
and travelers can look forward to experiencing a beautiful country that
is rich in history and culture.
United Yacht Transport is the premier worldwide yacht transporter and
offers cost effective yacht transport and boat shipping services. United
Yacht Transport ships worldwide to Mexico, the Caribbean, the Middle
East, Asia and the Mediterranean. As the North American leader in yacht
transportation, United Yacht Transport prides itself on reliability,
safe transport, and unparalleled customer service.
Media Contact: Paul Haber, United Yacht Transport, 954-417-3658,
paul@united-yacht.com
Source: United Yacht Transport Looks Into Still Water's Voyage Into
Cuban Waters - Yahoo Finance -
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-yacht-transport-looks-still-120500923.html
Monday, September 28, 2015
Obama to meet Cuba's Raul Castro Tuesday
Obama to meet Cuba's Raul Castro Tuesday
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will
hold talks with Cuban leader Raul Castro on Tuesday on the sidelines of
the UN General Assembly in New York, the White House said Sunday.
It will be the second meeting between the two leaders, after a first
historic encounter in Panama in April.
Washington and Havana reestablished diplomatic relations in July after
more than half a century of enmity.
The Cuban leader, who succeeded his brother Fidel in 2006, will make his
first-ever address to the UN General Assembly on Monday, only several
hours after Obama takes the podium.
In an address to a UN development summit on Saturday, Castro took aim at
the US embargo against Cuba, describing it as the "main obstacle" to his
country's economic development.
"Such a policy is rejected by 188 United Nations member-states that
demand its removal," he said, referring to a UN resolution calling for
the end of the decades-old embargo.
The 193-nation assembly has voted each year since 1982 to approve a
resolution calling on the United States to lift the embargo against
Cuba, which has been in place since 1960.
Castro hailed the re-establishment of relations with Washington as a
"major progress," but stressed that the embargo was unfinished business.
"The economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba persists,
as it has been for half a century, bringing damages and hardships on the
Cuban people," said Castro.
Since the rapprochement with Cuba, the Obama administration has
expressed support for lifting the embargo, but the decision rests with
Congress, where a Republican majority opposes the move.
The General Assembly is set to discuss a new draft resolution condemning
the embargo at a session next month.
Source: Obama to meet Cuba's Raul Castro Tuesday - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-meet-cubas-raul-castro-tuesday-162159572.html
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will
hold talks with Cuban leader Raul Castro on Tuesday on the sidelines of
the UN General Assembly in New York, the White House said Sunday.
It will be the second meeting between the two leaders, after a first
historic encounter in Panama in April.
Washington and Havana reestablished diplomatic relations in July after
more than half a century of enmity.
The Cuban leader, who succeeded his brother Fidel in 2006, will make his
first-ever address to the UN General Assembly on Monday, only several
hours after Obama takes the podium.
In an address to a UN development summit on Saturday, Castro took aim at
the US embargo against Cuba, describing it as the "main obstacle" to his
country's economic development.
"Such a policy is rejected by 188 United Nations member-states that
demand its removal," he said, referring to a UN resolution calling for
the end of the decades-old embargo.
The 193-nation assembly has voted each year since 1982 to approve a
resolution calling on the United States to lift the embargo against
Cuba, which has been in place since 1960.
Castro hailed the re-establishment of relations with Washington as a
"major progress," but stressed that the embargo was unfinished business.
"The economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba persists,
as it has been for half a century, bringing damages and hardships on the
Cuban people," said Castro.
Since the rapprochement with Cuba, the Obama administration has
expressed support for lifting the embargo, but the decision rests with
Congress, where a Republican majority opposes the move.
The General Assembly is set to discuss a new draft resolution condemning
the embargo at a session next month.
Source: Obama to meet Cuba's Raul Castro Tuesday - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/obama-meet-cubas-raul-castro-tuesday-162159572.html
JetBlue expands U.S.-Cuba service ahead of expected travel opening
JetBlue expands U.S.-Cuba service ahead of expected travel opening
HAVANA (Reuters) - U.S. airline JetBlue will add a second charter flight
from New York's John F. Kennedy airport to Havana, expanding charter
service ahead of an expected opening of commercial air travel between
the two countries, the company said on Monday.
The new round-trip, non-stop flight will operate every Tuesday starting
Dec. 1 in partnership with Cuba Travel Services, a travel provider
licensed by the U.S. government to arrange flights to Cuba.
The two companies currently operate one of two other JFK-to-Havana
charter flights. Several other charter flights take passengers to Cuba
from Florida.
Under new rules initiated by U.S. President Barack Obama in January a
month after he announced detente with the former Cold War adversary,
U.S. airlines are permitted to fly to Cuba without the need for special
permission from the Treasury Department.
However, U.S. and Cuban officials first need to negotiate a new civil
aviation agreement.
Representatives of both countries are scheduled to hold aviation talks
on Monday and Tuesday in Havana.
Normal airline service was interrupted by the U.S. trade embargo imposed
on Cuba in 1962.
U.S. tourism to Cuba is still banned but certain U.S. citizens and
Cuban-Americans are allowed to go on specially sanctioned travel, which
has been further relaxed by Obama, creating a larger market for U.S.
travel to the Communist-governed island.
The Cuba travel market is expected to grow further should the United
States lift either the tourism ban or the embargo. Legislation proposing
both is pending in the U.S. Congress.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Source: JetBlue expands U.S.-Cuba service ahead of expected travel
opening - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/jetblue-expands-u-cuba-ahead-expected-travel-opening-041400862--finance.html
HAVANA (Reuters) - U.S. airline JetBlue will add a second charter flight
from New York's John F. Kennedy airport to Havana, expanding charter
service ahead of an expected opening of commercial air travel between
the two countries, the company said on Monday.
The new round-trip, non-stop flight will operate every Tuesday starting
Dec. 1 in partnership with Cuba Travel Services, a travel provider
licensed by the U.S. government to arrange flights to Cuba.
The two companies currently operate one of two other JFK-to-Havana
charter flights. Several other charter flights take passengers to Cuba
from Florida.
Under new rules initiated by U.S. President Barack Obama in January a
month after he announced detente with the former Cold War adversary,
U.S. airlines are permitted to fly to Cuba without the need for special
permission from the Treasury Department.
However, U.S. and Cuban officials first need to negotiate a new civil
aviation agreement.
Representatives of both countries are scheduled to hold aviation talks
on Monday and Tuesday in Havana.
Normal airline service was interrupted by the U.S. trade embargo imposed
on Cuba in 1962.
U.S. tourism to Cuba is still banned but certain U.S. citizens and
Cuban-Americans are allowed to go on specially sanctioned travel, which
has been further relaxed by Obama, creating a larger market for U.S.
travel to the Communist-governed island.
The Cuba travel market is expected to grow further should the United
States lift either the tourism ban or the embargo. Legislation proposing
both is pending in the U.S. Congress.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
Source: JetBlue expands U.S.-Cuba service ahead of expected travel
opening - Yahoo News -
http://news.yahoo.com/jetblue-expands-u-cuba-ahead-expected-travel-opening-041400862--finance.html
Kentucky Businesses Interested in Trade with Cuba
Kentucky Businesses Interested in Trade with Cuba
By STU JOHNSON WEKU NEWS
Representatives from the Kentucky World Trade Center are taking a
business related trip to Cuba next month. Lexington council members
received an update last week of trade center activities. Center
President Ed Webb says area business leaders approached him about a trip
to Cuba. "Basically we said initially no because the embargo still
exists," Webb said. "It's still in place which means we cannot do any
kind of business activity except for humanitarian aid, which would be
medical and food supplies."
Center Vice President Sherry Mulkins says the October trip to Cuba will
include meetings with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and local
entrepreneurs. The group from Kentucky includes representatives from
Alltech, Electro Dry, and East Kentucky Power. Mulkins says she
routinely gets questions from local business owners about when they can
start selling products in Cuba. "There's not any way to know," she
said. "That's actually the number one question I've been asked." Mulkins
says she anticipates such an opportunity to be sooner than later, based
on how quickly U.S.- Cuba relations are moving.
21 Kentuckians will head to Cuba during the week of October 19.
Source: Kentucky Businesses Interested in Trade with Cuba | WEKU -
http://weku.fm/post/kentucky-businesses-interested-trade-cuba#stream/0
By STU JOHNSON WEKU NEWS
Representatives from the Kentucky World Trade Center are taking a
business related trip to Cuba next month. Lexington council members
received an update last week of trade center activities. Center
President Ed Webb says area business leaders approached him about a trip
to Cuba. "Basically we said initially no because the embargo still
exists," Webb said. "It's still in place which means we cannot do any
kind of business activity except for humanitarian aid, which would be
medical and food supplies."
Center Vice President Sherry Mulkins says the October trip to Cuba will
include meetings with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and local
entrepreneurs. The group from Kentucky includes representatives from
Alltech, Electro Dry, and East Kentucky Power. Mulkins says she
routinely gets questions from local business owners about when they can
start selling products in Cuba. "There's not any way to know," she
said. "That's actually the number one question I've been asked." Mulkins
says she anticipates such an opportunity to be sooner than later, based
on how quickly U.S.- Cuba relations are moving.
21 Kentuckians will head to Cuba during the week of October 19.
Source: Kentucky Businesses Interested in Trade with Cuba | WEKU -
http://weku.fm/post/kentucky-businesses-interested-trade-cuba#stream/0
Raúl Castro of Cuba to Address Warming of Relations With U.S. at U.N.
Raúl Castro of Cuba to Address Warming of Relations With U.S. at U.N.
By AZAM AHMEDSEPT. 28, 2015
President Raúl Castro of Cuba is scheduled to address the United Nations
General Assembly on Monday. Azam Ahmed, The New York Times's bureau
chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, who recently
visited Cuba, considers what Mr. Castro might say and how it is likely
to be received.
What are Mr. Castro's priorities?
The main issues are likely to be the warming of relations with the
United States, the slow transition to a more market-driven economy and
the lifting of the American trade embargo.
The embargo could be the most difficult issue to address; lifting it
requires a decision in the United States Congress. For Mr. Castro to be
able to talk about this in New York, at the General Assembly, with an
American audience watching closely, will be a unique opportunity.
Mr. Castro will probably try to frame the lifting of the embargo as the
next crucial step for Cuba to open up to the world and to bolster its
economy.
How might Mr. Castro try to appeal to the international forum?
On the heels of a visit to Cuba by Pope Francis, Mr. Castro might do a
little grandstanding and take a few swipes at his neighbor to the north.
Mr. Castro spoke bluntly when the pope arrived in Cuba, denouncing
United States policies and lauding the Cuban state for its commitment to
equality. Again, he will have a global audience that does not often tune
in when he makes the case for his country's revolution. If he does shake
his finger at the United States, Mr. Castro is unlikely to go overboard
for fear of alienating the members of Congress who will be listening.
Will he say anything surprising?
Cuba has daunting economic problems, and the government is slowly trying
to make changes to increase revenue and lessen people's reliance on
public funds.
The state has announced layoffs in the public sector in the past, but it
is hard to know if it actually followed through.
There are persistent complaints from Cubans, and among business leaders
who are eager for new opportunities, about the slow pace of change. Mr.
Castro might address this, but he is not likely to commit to swift,
drastic moves away from Cuba's socialist system. He often cites China
and Vietnam as examples of socialist countries where business is thriving.
Source: Raúl Castro of Cuba to Address Warming of Relations With U.S. at
U.N. - The New York Times -
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/americas/raul-castro-cuba-united-nations-general-assembly.html?_r=0
By AZAM AHMEDSEPT. 28, 2015
President Raúl Castro of Cuba is scheduled to address the United Nations
General Assembly on Monday. Azam Ahmed, The New York Times's bureau
chief for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, who recently
visited Cuba, considers what Mr. Castro might say and how it is likely
to be received.
What are Mr. Castro's priorities?
The main issues are likely to be the warming of relations with the
United States, the slow transition to a more market-driven economy and
the lifting of the American trade embargo.
The embargo could be the most difficult issue to address; lifting it
requires a decision in the United States Congress. For Mr. Castro to be
able to talk about this in New York, at the General Assembly, with an
American audience watching closely, will be a unique opportunity.
Mr. Castro will probably try to frame the lifting of the embargo as the
next crucial step for Cuba to open up to the world and to bolster its
economy.
How might Mr. Castro try to appeal to the international forum?
On the heels of a visit to Cuba by Pope Francis, Mr. Castro might do a
little grandstanding and take a few swipes at his neighbor to the north.
Mr. Castro spoke bluntly when the pope arrived in Cuba, denouncing
United States policies and lauding the Cuban state for its commitment to
equality. Again, he will have a global audience that does not often tune
in when he makes the case for his country's revolution. If he does shake
his finger at the United States, Mr. Castro is unlikely to go overboard
for fear of alienating the members of Congress who will be listening.
Will he say anything surprising?
Cuba has daunting economic problems, and the government is slowly trying
to make changes to increase revenue and lessen people's reliance on
public funds.
The state has announced layoffs in the public sector in the past, but it
is hard to know if it actually followed through.
There are persistent complaints from Cubans, and among business leaders
who are eager for new opportunities, about the slow pace of change. Mr.
Castro might address this, but he is not likely to commit to swift,
drastic moves away from Cuba's socialist system. He often cites China
and Vietnam as examples of socialist countries where business is thriving.
Source: Raúl Castro of Cuba to Address Warming of Relations With U.S. at
U.N. - The New York Times -
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/world/americas/raul-castro-cuba-united-nations-general-assembly.html?_r=0
Russia may produce oil in Cuba
Russia may produce oil in Cuba
28.09.2015 | Source: Pravda.Ru
Russian state oil company Rosneft considers oil prospecting and
production in Cuba. The key issues relating to the implementation of the
project will be discussed by the Russian President and President of Cuba
Raul Castro at the UN General Assembly.
Russia has already started delivering Cuba electric power equipment.
Another Russian state-controlled oil company Zarubezhneft considers the
increase of enhanced oil recovery at the Boca de Jaruco oil field. A
joint project on the modernization of a thermal power station in the
towns of Mariel and Santa Cruz del Norte is also being discussed.
Russia intents to get involved in the oil exploration between Cuba and
Florida. Last year the Russian companies Rosneft and Zarubezhneft signed
an agreement with Cuba on the oil prospecting off the Cuban coast.
According to the agreement, Rosneft is to set bases for staff in the
Cuban port of Mariel, and equipment for offshore drilling rigs, as well
as a system of pipe lines and a helicopter pad.
Source: Russia may produce oil in Cuba - English pravda.ru -
http://english.pravda.ru/news/business/28-09-2015/132145-oil-0/
28.09.2015 | Source: Pravda.Ru
Russian state oil company Rosneft considers oil prospecting and
production in Cuba. The key issues relating to the implementation of the
project will be discussed by the Russian President and President of Cuba
Raul Castro at the UN General Assembly.
Russia has already started delivering Cuba electric power equipment.
Another Russian state-controlled oil company Zarubezhneft considers the
increase of enhanced oil recovery at the Boca de Jaruco oil field. A
joint project on the modernization of a thermal power station in the
towns of Mariel and Santa Cruz del Norte is also being discussed.
Russia intents to get involved in the oil exploration between Cuba and
Florida. Last year the Russian companies Rosneft and Zarubezhneft signed
an agreement with Cuba on the oil prospecting off the Cuban coast.
According to the agreement, Rosneft is to set bases for staff in the
Cuban port of Mariel, and equipment for offshore drilling rigs, as well
as a system of pipe lines and a helicopter pad.
Source: Russia may produce oil in Cuba - English pravda.ru -
http://english.pravda.ru/news/business/28-09-2015/132145-oil-0/
New rules support more U.S. sailings to Cuba, but limits remain
New rules support more U.S. sailings to Cuba, but limits remain
By Tom Stieghorst / September 27, 2015
New rules that took effect this month will give cruise lines and ferry
operators broader latitude to sail between the U.S. and Cuba without
filing for approval each time.
Last week, Cuba travel experts said that these so-called general
licenses could invite more service to Cuba but were unlikely to open the
floodgates to the tourist-oriented cruises the rest of the Caribbean enjoys.
Several cruise lines have announced plans to start or expand cruises to
Cuba. They include Carnival Corp.'s Fathom brand, Haimark Line, Pearl
Seas Cruises and Cuba Cruise by Celestyal Cruises.
Those operations are now authorized under a general license, provided
they meet the other conditions for travel to Cuba that remain in force
under the Trade Sanction Reform and Export Enhancement Act.
The main condition is that travelers engage only in one of 12 sanctioned
types of "purposeful travel," such as cultural exchange, professional
research, education or humanitarian projects.
"That still will be followed to the letter of the law," said Bruce
Nierenberg, president of United Caribbean Lines, a ferry operator
planning cruises to Cuba from Miami in partnership with Haimark Line.
Nierenberg said the rules won't have much if any impact on cruise lines,
other than to make it easier to do business in Cuba overall.
"There will be some very significant, better circumstances for
transferring funds, doing business [and] opening offices," Nierenberg
said. "So anyone doing business with a Cuban product is going to have a
much easier time."
He said cruising to Cuba remains limited both by the ban on Americans
doing leisure tourism there and by a rule that general licenses allow
travel between the U.S. and Cuba only.
"If you're going on a ship, you're going to need to leave from the
United States, go to Cuba and come back to the United States without any
third ports," he said. "You can't run this as a typical Caribbean cruise
with Havana as a port of call. They are really going to be very strict
about that."
Vessels operating under general licenses will also be able to provide
lodging services "to, from or within Cuba, including when docked in a
port in Cuba," according to a Q&A produced by the Treasury Department's
Office of Foreign Asset Control.
Although the rules ease the burden for cruise providers with an eye on
Cuba, authorization from the Cuban government for entry has been slow in
coming.
Maurice Zarmati, former president and CEO of Costa Cruises North
America, said the delays on the Cuban side are likely due to
bureaucratic sluggishness. "The wheels turn very slowly," he said.
Nierenberg said capacity and security issues also come into play.
"They're very security conscious down there, and rightfully so," he
said. "They have one of the tightest and most professional security
organizations in the world."
The new rules also won't have much impact on inbound tourism from Cuba,
which would be a pick-up for many suppliers in the U.S.
Several years ago, Cuba broadened access to travel visas for the U.S.,
but visas are still required, and some Cubans still can't get them under
rules designed to "preserve the skilled workforce and protect official
information," in the words of a Cuban report.
Most Cubans travel to the U.S. to visit friends and relatives in
southern Florida. Cathy Keefe, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Travel
Association, which promotes foreign travel to the U.S., said the number
of in-bound tourists from Cuba is insignificant.
"The ability of many Cubans to travel to the U.S. is so limited that
it's not a top issue for us at this time," she said.
Source: New rules support more U.S. sailings to Cuba, but limits remain:
Travel Weekly -
http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/New-rules-support-more-US-sailings-to-Cuba-but-limits-remain
By Tom Stieghorst / September 27, 2015
New rules that took effect this month will give cruise lines and ferry
operators broader latitude to sail between the U.S. and Cuba without
filing for approval each time.
Last week, Cuba travel experts said that these so-called general
licenses could invite more service to Cuba but were unlikely to open the
floodgates to the tourist-oriented cruises the rest of the Caribbean enjoys.
Several cruise lines have announced plans to start or expand cruises to
Cuba. They include Carnival Corp.'s Fathom brand, Haimark Line, Pearl
Seas Cruises and Cuba Cruise by Celestyal Cruises.
Those operations are now authorized under a general license, provided
they meet the other conditions for travel to Cuba that remain in force
under the Trade Sanction Reform and Export Enhancement Act.
The main condition is that travelers engage only in one of 12 sanctioned
types of "purposeful travel," such as cultural exchange, professional
research, education or humanitarian projects.
"That still will be followed to the letter of the law," said Bruce
Nierenberg, president of United Caribbean Lines, a ferry operator
planning cruises to Cuba from Miami in partnership with Haimark Line.
Nierenberg said the rules won't have much if any impact on cruise lines,
other than to make it easier to do business in Cuba overall.
"There will be some very significant, better circumstances for
transferring funds, doing business [and] opening offices," Nierenberg
said. "So anyone doing business with a Cuban product is going to have a
much easier time."
He said cruising to Cuba remains limited both by the ban on Americans
doing leisure tourism there and by a rule that general licenses allow
travel between the U.S. and Cuba only.
"If you're going on a ship, you're going to need to leave from the
United States, go to Cuba and come back to the United States without any
third ports," he said. "You can't run this as a typical Caribbean cruise
with Havana as a port of call. They are really going to be very strict
about that."
Vessels operating under general licenses will also be able to provide
lodging services "to, from or within Cuba, including when docked in a
port in Cuba," according to a Q&A produced by the Treasury Department's
Office of Foreign Asset Control.
Although the rules ease the burden for cruise providers with an eye on
Cuba, authorization from the Cuban government for entry has been slow in
coming.
Maurice Zarmati, former president and CEO of Costa Cruises North
America, said the delays on the Cuban side are likely due to
bureaucratic sluggishness. "The wheels turn very slowly," he said.
Nierenberg said capacity and security issues also come into play.
"They're very security conscious down there, and rightfully so," he
said. "They have one of the tightest and most professional security
organizations in the world."
The new rules also won't have much impact on inbound tourism from Cuba,
which would be a pick-up for many suppliers in the U.S.
Several years ago, Cuba broadened access to travel visas for the U.S.,
but visas are still required, and some Cubans still can't get them under
rules designed to "preserve the skilled workforce and protect official
information," in the words of a Cuban report.
Most Cubans travel to the U.S. to visit friends and relatives in
southern Florida. Cathy Keefe, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Travel
Association, which promotes foreign travel to the U.S., said the number
of in-bound tourists from Cuba is insignificant.
"The ability of many Cubans to travel to the U.S. is so limited that
it's not a top issue for us at this time," she said.
Source: New rules support more U.S. sailings to Cuba, but limits remain:
Travel Weekly -
http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/New-rules-support-more-US-sailings-to-Cuba-but-limits-remain
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
