Royal Caribbean Opens New School in Haiti

Royal Caribbean Opens New School in Haiti

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., one of Haiti’s largest foreign investors for almost 30 years, today announced the completion of the L’Ecole Nouvelle Royal Caribbean – one of the first schools to be built in Haiti after the earthquake. The strategically located 6,500 square foot school complex is in northern Haiti near nine towns and villages: Labadie, Cormier, Ducroix, Fort Bourgeois, Marchegalles, Cimetiere-Juif, Champ de Mars, Port Francais and Cap Haitien. The campus consists of six buildings, with 12 classrooms, administrative offices, a computer lab and bathrooms. The school will provide children from the area an education, including classes in English and environmental stewardship. In the evenings adults will attend vocational training.
In delivering the school to the Haitian people as promised, Royal Caribbean worked with South Florida based InnoVida and the St. Coleman’s School, as well as Haiti based ProDev, L’Ecole Nouvelle Zoranje and the Solano Foundation.
“What better way to help Haiti than by educating the children?” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. ”Haiti's needs are enormous, and although we can only be a small part of the solution, we believe our model school is a good start. We hope that these children will develop into leaders who will guide Haiti’s recovery in the future.”
The school is on land Royal Caribbean leases from the Haitian government. Royal Caribbean worked with InnoVida and used the company’s Fiber Composite Panels to build the entire school complex in only four weeks, using 50 local Haitian workers, in time for the 2010-2011 school year. All construction materials were transported from Miami onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships. InnoVida’s structures can sustain hurricane winds, resist earthquakes due to their high deflection capacity, are waterproof and are a highly energy efficient system.
This first school will be a primary school for grades kindergarten through 5. There will be three kindergarten classes with 36 students, and each grade 1 through 5 will have 25 students, for a minimum of 230 children educated this school year. Royal Caribbean’s next Haitian school building project is entering into the planning stages now.
Continuing its tradition of promoting innovation and creativity, Royal Caribbean partnered with the YMCA of Greater Miami and provided children an opportunity to name the school in Haiti. Out of the more than 3,000 submissions received, a seventh grader from the YMCA afterschool program in Miami Lakes proposed the winning name L’Ecole Nouvelle Royal Caribbean.
Beginning just three days after the earthquake, Royal Caribbean transported more than 3,000 pallets of much needed supplies on Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises ships that called on Labadee. Also, to date, Royal Caribbean’s monetary contribution to the Haiti relief effort is at least $2.5 million, which includes money raised from the donated Labadee calls, the onboard guest donations, and matching funds. The company’s operations at Labadee impact over 500 local Haitians who are either employees or vendors at Labadee commuting from nearby villages. Royal Caribbean also employs over 200 Haitian crew members onboard ships.

Herald report on Haiti's main port

The Miami Herald ran a story today about the problems with rebuilding the Port-au-Prince seaport. It points out the importance of the seaport as an economic driver and the frustrations faced by many of the shippers and those trying to help rebuild. Check it out "Engine of Haiti's recovery sputters."

Sick Relief Crew aboard Schooner Helped by Port Everglades Community

Seafarers' House at Port Everglades led the effort to assist the distressed crew of sailboat returning from a relief effort in Haiti. The Port waived dockage fees for the sailboat, while other companies provided essential services such as food, medical care, and security. Read all about it in The Triton

President Obama Signs Legislation Providing Immediate Tax Deductions for Haiti Charitable

In the days since the earthquake in Haiti, Americans have shown their generosity with millions of dollars in donations. President Obama signed a bill into law that makes it easier to give. This legislation will allow taxpayers to receive the tax benefit from donations made to the Haiti effort in this tax season, rather than having to wait until they file their 2010 tax returns next year. Specifically, cash donations to charities for the Haitian relief effort given after January 11 and before March 1 of this year may be treated as if the contribution was made on December 31 of last year so that the contribution can be deducted from 2009 income. This measure applies to monetary donations, not goods or services.
One way to contribute is the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. To donate, visit ClintonBushHaitiFund.org or text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation that will be added to your cell phone bill. To learn more about the situation in Haiti and what you can do to help, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake.

Upcoming Haiti Commerce and Relief Events

Thank you to Bill Lawton from the U.S. Department of Commerce for sharing this list of upcoming meetings and events regarding rebuilding trade and commerce in Haiti.

March 9-10, 2010
What: International Peace Operations “Haiti Summit”
Where: Miami, FL
Details: An organization for private military and logistics corporations, the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA), is co-organizing a ‘Haiti Summit’ which aims to bring together ‘leading officials’ for ‘private consultations with attending contractors and investors’.

March 10-12, 2010
What: Export-Import Bank Annual Conference
Where: Washington, DC
Details: This annual meeting is geared to new and current Ex-Im Bank City/State Partners. Staff will brief partners on the Bank’s new products/ programs and product changes.

March 12, 2010
What: “Haiti: Jobs and Growth - What Will it Take?” Conference
Where: Washington, DC (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
Details: This high-level roundtable discussion will examine three central topics: 1) Natural Disasters: Lessons Learned; 2) Private Sector on the Ground Realities; and 3) Beyond Investment: Contributions of the Private Sector in Building Back the Community. There will be a moderated fully-interactive discussion on each topic with hand-picked policy experts and opinion leaders. The roundtable should stimulate consideration of innovative policy proposals to facilitate private sector-led growth and job creation in Haiti going forward.

March 17-19, 2010
What: Sustainable Haiti Conference
Where: Miami, FL
Details: This conference is a special “conference within a conference” taking place during Social Venture Capital/Social Enterprise Conference, Miami-2010. It will contain 45 workshops/panels and over 100 speakers from around the world during its 3 days.

March 31, 2010
What: United Nations Donor Conference
Where: United Nations Building, New York, NY
Details: Government’s from the world’s major economies convene to discuss initial financial/other commitments to Haiti. Commitments based, in part, on a post-disaster needs assessment (prepared by World Bank, IDB, UN, etc.) detailing a list of initial demands.

April 7, 2010
What: Haiti Jobs and Growth: What Will it Take? (Tentative)
Where: New York University, New York, NY
Details: Organized by U.S. Chamber of Commerce with partner Business Civic Leadership Center. President Bill Clinton has been invited but has not yet accepted.

April/June 2010
What: Business Outreach Events
Where: Miami, New York, New Jersey and other U.S. locations TBD
Details: ITA/MAC, working with USEACs, will hold events for the local business community in several U.S. cities including Miami, New York, Boston, northern New Jersey and others. The goal is to engage businesses and other stakeholders (local government officials, academia, etc.) with a direct interest in Haiti’s long-term development. Sites will be chosen and events promoted with the additional goal of reaching members of the Haitian diaspora. MAC will work closely with Commercial Service-Export Assistance Centers in these cities to ensure strong participation.

May 5-6, 2010
What: Haiti Business Development Conference
Where: Santo Domingo, DR
Details: Haitian business sector organizations and companies will be invited to participate in the Conference, providing them with a platform to establish linkages with U.S. and Dominican providers/partners. All of the business participants will attend the presentations made by the multilaterals and other key organizations, including the U.N., WB, IDB and USAID. Those organizations have welcomed the opportunity to inform the private sector about their Haiti plans, procurement processes, etc. They have also indicated an interest in possibly including companies from other major donor countries as well, which AMCHAM may handle.

June 14-18, 2010
What: Trade Mission to DR and Jamaica
Where: DR and Jamaica
Details: CS’s Trade Mission to the DR and Jamaica that was originally scheduled for March has been pushed back until June.

Spirit Airlines Resumes Service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Ultra Low Cost Airline Once Again Liberates Haiti From High Fares-- Ultra low cost carrier Spirit Airlines has resumed service to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Regular passenger service had been suspended following the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010.

SeaFreight Resumes Service to Haiti

Further to our January, 27th announcement regarding the resumption of service to Haiti, SeaFreight Line is pleased to advise that the first call of the dedicated feeder vessel, M/V Orso took place on February 1st at Port au Prince discharging mid stream and using landing craft to shuttle the Containers ashore.

The Orso discharged 100 Containers of Aid/Relief cargo as well as dry and refrigerated foodstuffs.

Our second call at Port au Price is scheduled for Monday February 8th and at least weekly thereafter.

We are accepting cargo from Jacksonville FL every Monday and Port Everglades FL every Wednesday and Friday connecting over Kingston, Jamaica into the Haiti Feeder Vessel. Additionally, we are accepting cargo for Haiti from all of our regular ports of call.

Please note that due to the situation in Haiti there are a number of restrictions that apply.

For additional information, please contact our Haiti Task Force at Teamhaiti@seafreightagencies.com

Tariff Waiver for Shipping Relief Supplies Revised

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners has approved a revised version of Tariff Item #950 that broadens the scope of the waiver for shipping relief supplies to Haiti and other disaster areas that meet the quallifications. The waiver is retroactive to January 12, 2010. To read the entire waiver, go to www.porteverglades.net.

Royal Caribbean Shipping Supplies to Haiti

Royal Caribbean Cruises, one of Haiti’s largest foreign investors for almost 30 years, is providing at least $1 million in humanitarian relief to Haiti in response to the catastrophic earthquake in Port-Au-Prince. Royal Caribbean is also partnering with charitable organizations – such as Food for the Poor, Pan American Development Foundation, and the Solano Foundation, the company’s foundation in Haiti – to provide additional assistance to the people of Haiti. Royal Caribbean will also be delivering much needed goods and supplies to Haiti via their cruise ships.

In addition to working with Food for the Poor to distribute relief supplies, guests sailing onboard Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises will be able to make a donation to Food for the Poor's Haiti Relief Fund, via a charge to their onboard account. Guests who would like to contribute immediately can visit www.foodforthepoor.org/royalcaribbean to make a donation. Royal Caribbean also plans to use a portion of the $1 million donation to augment the company's Crew Relief Fund, which can be drawn on by any of the company's more than 200 Haitian crew members for assistance, as well as to match employee contributions to the partner organizations.

Humanitarian Relief Shipments from Port Everglades

Completed
● 1/17/10 “MACAJAMA” (Crowley); 56 x 20’ containers to Rio Haina for road transport to Port Au Prince; 12 x 20’s for discharge at Port Au Prince via transfer to lighter (small G&G ship) and rolled ashore

● 1/19/10 Tug ‘RESOLVE PIONEER” /Barge “RNG60” (Resolve Marine); heavy lift crawler crane, desalination plant, several containers of relief supplies; to Port Au Prince

● 1/21/10 “CROWLEY AMERICAS” (Crowley); 140 x 20’s of FEMA provided cots, tents, MRE’s + 11 x 40’s emergency room medical supplies; discharge Rio Haina for road transport to Port Au Prince

● 1/25/10 ‘MACAJAMA” (Crowley); 200 x 20’s FEMA provided relief supplies and materials; 153 of the containers were railed from Jacksonville; for lighter transfer via G&G at Port Au Prince

►● 1/30/10 “MACAJAMA” (Crowley); 27 x 20’ FEMA provided relief supplies; all to be discharged at Port Au Prince via lighter transfer to G&G

Future
● ‘MACAJAMA” (Crowley); scheduled to load at PEV every weekend with containers of relief supplies for Port Au Prince

● ‘DELPHINUS” (Crowley); if needed, to be placed in service with “MACAJAMA” for mid-week every week sailing from PEV with containers of relief supplies

►● ‘HUAKAI” could substitute for ‘ALAKAI” (Military Sealift Command) if service commences; MSC remains undecided as to selection of US port(s) of call, frequency of service and whether emphasis would be on carriage of relief supplies or relief workers or both

►● SeaFreight Lines preparing to reestablish their regular weekly service to Haiti and anticipates carrying relief cargoes

Crowley forms Haiti Relief Cargo Team

In an effort to centralize all Haiti-related relief information, Crowley has formed a Haiti Relief Cargo Team. All relief goods and cargo related inquiries should be addressed with this group by calling 1-800-490-3321 or by emailing HaitiReliefCargo@crowley.com.

Only bookings qualified by this group will be accepted into Haiti once that service is available. As time permits, the group will also be reaching out to customers about Crowley’s cargo abilities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Census Bureau are coordinating efforts regarding the submission of Electronic Export Information (EET)

The Census Bureau will continue to require submission of the EEI for all export shipments going to Haiti, including relief supplies. Shipments valued under 2500 may cite the EEI exception 15 CFR 30.37(a) or 30.37(a). The exporter for shipments that qualify for a different EEI exception should cite those exceptions on the shipping documents provided to the carrier. The exports of goods valued over $2500 should provide the Internal Transaction Number (e.g. X20100121000025) to the carrier. Goods requiring a license for export require the submission of the EEI regardless of value.

The Census Bureau has the Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division Call Center that will provide assistance to all exporters seeking to ship relief supplies to Haiti. The call center phone number is 1-800-549-0595. The Call Center will provide assistance with registering with Census and filing the EEI for shipments of relief supplies going to Haiti. The Center’s operating hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST) and Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (EST). Additional information may be found on the Census Bureau’s web site at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/index.html.

The following Schedule B or Harmonized Tariff Schedule Numbers should be utilized when filing the EEI for relief supplies going to Haiti.
9802.100000 Donated Food Products
9802.200000 Donated Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Products
9802.300000 Donated Wearing Apparel
9802.400000 All other donated materials

WIN Group, SEACOR begin emergency project to restore bulk fuel imports

WIN Group, the Haitian conglomerate that owns and operates Terminal Varreux in Port-au-Prince, situated just five miles from the epicenter of the January 12 earthquake, and SEACOR Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CKH) (SEACOR) have launched an emergency response project to enable the crucial marine terminal to resume receiving bulk fuel and containerized cargoes thereby replenishing the stricken country’s rapidly dwindling supplies of gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, propane gas and edible oils used for cooking.

Terminal Varreux receives and stores in excess of 70% of Haiti’s fuel oil used for power plants, gasoline and diesel used for land-based fueling stations, propane used for multiple applications and edible oils used for cooking. Terminal Varreux has a minimum of 18 large storage tanks with a total capacity of approximately 45 million gallons. For more information go to www.seacorholdings.com

UM needs help sending medical supplies

The University of Miami needs assistance to transport medical supplies to their tent hospitals in Port-au-Prince. If you can help, please contact Elizabeth Kourtesis at the UM Miller School of Medicine ekourtes@med.miami.edu or call 786-270-7871.

Federal Maritime Commission announces relief actions

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) advises regulated entities of the following flexibilities currently available under the Commission's regulations and the Shipping Act without further request for Commission action:

Common carriers can quickly begin new service to Haiti and waive or reduce charges for charitable shipments to Haiti: Common carrier tariff publication s for trades, points or ports not presently served may become effective upon publication. Tariff rates and charges can be reduced or waived upon publication. 46 C.F.R. 520.8(a)(1); 46 C.F.R. 520.8(b)(1); 46 C.F.R. 520.8(b)(3).

Expedited review for agreements is available to facilitate services to Haiti: Many agreements required to be filed under the Shipping Act are eligible to become effective upon filing; for those that are not, parties may request expedited review. 46 C.F.R. 535.605. Such agreements filed with the Commission are immunized from the U.S. antitrust laws. 46 U.S.C. 40307.

Freight forwarders can give free or reduced-rate service to relief agencies shipping to Haiti: Licensed freight forwarders may perform freight forwarding services for recognized relief agencies or charitable organizations, which are designated as such in the tariff of the common carrier, free of charge or at reduced fees. 46 C.F.R. 515.41(d).

Marine terminal operators can waive or reduce charges for Haiti relief or reconstruction: Commission regulations do not preclude marine terminal operators from waiving or reducing any fees or schedules of charges. 46 C.F.R. Part 535.
Should any regulated entity desire additional relief from or clarification of Commission regulations, please contact Vern Hill, the Commission's Haiti Point of Contact, at (202) 523-5783.

Port Waives Tariff for Hatian Relief Supplies

The Port Director and the Broward County Board of County Commissioners have elected to waive any and all qualifying tariff charges for oceangoing vessels supplying humanitarian relief to Haiti, in accordance with Port Everglades Tariff Item 950 (the seaport’s governing rules and associated fees). Tariff charges typically include fees for docking a ship at the Port along with other related marine services.

A shipping company can apply for a tariff waiver simply by sending a request letter to Port Director Phillip C. Allen with a copy to Robert Flint, Operations Director, that states the humanitarian aid that your company is providing under Tariff Item #950 and how the cargo qualifies, the name of the ship with an attached list of the cargo and its weight. The address is: Port Everglades, 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.

Information about the Port Everglades Tariff can be found on the Port's website at www.porteverglades.net. If you have questions about qualifying for the tariff waiver, please send us an email at porteverglades@broward.org.

Taxi cab drivers are having a water collection drive at the Port on Saturday, January 23 and Sunday, January 24.

BSO Fire Rescue station at Port Everglades is collecting donations of canned meats, fish, condensed, evaporated and powdered milk and water.

Welcome

Welcome to the Port Everglades aid for Haiti blog. This blog is intended to serve as a "matchmaker" for organizations and companies that want to use ocean shipping as a means to getting relief supplies to Haiti.

Yesterday, approximately 35 people from the Port community met to figure out how we can help each other and assist charitable organizations that have items to donate. Connections were made and the ideas flowed. Ocean shipping is a complicated business, but there are professionals here in the Port Everglades community who want to help. Look here daily for updates.

We invite you to contact us at porteverglades@broward.org with any questions and suggestions.