CROWLEY SIGNS CONTRACT TO TRANSPORT FOOD FROM U.S. TO CUBA

CROWLEY SIGNS CONTRACT TO TRANSPORT FOOD FROM U.S. TO CUBA    Crowley Liner Services signed a contract Tuesday night with Alimport, the Cuban agency involved with purchasing food products for Cuba, to transport containerized frozen poultry and dry food products from the United States to Cuba.
   Alimport, also known as Empresa Cubana Importadora de Alimentos, is purchasing the food from U.S. companies in hopes of providing relief for Cubans impacted by Hurricane Michelle, which caused widespread destruction as it passed over the island Nov. 4. The shipments are expected to start in December.
   Earlier this year, Crowley became the first U.S. carrier to obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury to provide regular scheduled common carrier services for licensed cargo from the United States to Cuba. Crowley's participation in the trade was made possible by the “Trade Sanctions and Export Enhancement Act of 2000,” signed into law Oct. 28, 2000 by then president Clinton.
   Crowley has yet to make any direct vessel calls in Cuba, but has transported loads for customers to Mexico and then via third-party carriers to Cuba on Crowley bills of lading.