Italy’s Savino del Bene receives license from BIS To Provision Non-US Passenger Vessels In Cuba
/Scandicci, Italy-based Savino del Bene SpA (2016 revenues approximately US$1.4 billion) has received a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce to export food products, agricultural commodities and healthcare products from the United States to the Republic of Cuba for use by cruise ships.
The company (coordinating through its office in Miami, Florida) is using the Crowley Liner Services twice-weekly container schedule from Port Everglades, Florida, to the Port of Mariel, Republic of Cuba, managed by TC Mariel SA (a subsidiary of Singapore-based PSA International Pte Ltd).
The significance of this announcement is Savino del Bene SpA is receiving orders from Geneva, Switzerland-based MCS Cruises to provision its vessels upon their arrival to the Port of Havana, Republic of Cuba.
MSC Cruises operates itineraries including the Republic of Cuba that are not authorized for individuals subject to United States jurisdiction.
MCS Cruises will provide a list of items which will be sourced in the United States and then delivered through the services of a Republic of Cuba-based supply-chain correspondent to the vessel in a sealed container.
BIS authorized exports of product from the United States to the Republic of Cuba specifically for use by passengers (tourists) of a non-United States-based cruise company.
If United States-based cruise companies with itineraries authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury seek to use the BIS-licensed provision services of Savino del Bene SpA, the BIS will need amend the existing license.
“The Savino Del Bene Group is a global operator with over 3200 employees, 151 own branches, 66 subsidiary offices, and with the support of over 150 selected correspondents. Savino Del Bene, whose name is homonymous of its founder, started up in Florence, Italy, at the beginning of the 1900's. The company's early focus was to develop freight forwarding services primarily towards the USA. Today, Savino Del Bene has evolved into a global logistics provider with a worldwide network, specialized in supply chain management, offering services for ocean, air and surface transportation.”
