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.